Is there anything better than being live in a Pick 4, Pick 5, or Pick 6 going into the Belmont Stakes? If you are a true horse player, this race is probably the most difficult to handicap on your way to eternal glory.
The Manhattan Stakes will take place as Race 10 of a scheduled 13-race card will post at 5:38 pm (ET). Ten horses will be running for the $750,000 purse. This race is restricted to four-year-olds and will run on the inner turf surface. The distance for the Manhattan Stakes will be 1 ¼ mile.
The weather for this day’s events looks phenomenal, so don’t expect the turf to be firm. Typical running styles that win over this track in recent history are those who can come swinging for one big run in the long stretch. Of the contenders today, we will be highlighting four probable winners.
Betting Preview: (2) Gufo
This horse always seems to show up. They are a multiple Grade 1 winner who took second in the Man O War Grade 1 here last out. Jockey Joel Rosario is winning at 19% and is a great turf jockey. Trainer Christophe Clement is winning at 28%. Their running style is that of a stalker. Workout times are a little slow coming in. Morning line odds are 3/1. Their history on this track is not great as they’ve only won two of their six races here.
They are a multiple Grade 1 winner, and their running style does suit here at Belmont. I just think I’m going to take connections over recent good form for my top pick.
Betting Preview: (4) Adhamo
Jockey Flavien Prat is really not regretting his move to the East Coast. He is winning at 19% and will be on this Chad Brown-trained horse, who is winning at 37% for the meet. Their running style is that of a closer, and this horse hasn’t won yet here in the USA. They’ve taken nice seconds and thirds to some in this field, and I think that is the best-case scenario for them here. Morning line odds are 4/1. If they were 8/1, we’d have a different conversation.
Betting Preview: (9) Santin
Their recent race history suggests this one won a Grade 1 last out at Churchill, sitting just off the leader. They are lightly raced and coming off a normal work tab. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione is shipping in from Kentucky to stay onboard. Trainer Brendan Walsh is a perfect one for one shipping into Belmont this meet. Their running style is that of a pacer, but they have also won from far off it. Morning line odds are 7/2. Their holistic experience, in general, may be lacking, but I’ll be taking this lightly raced one to take them all the way around if they get the chance.
Betting Preview: (10) Channel Maker
This one’s form could be all the way back. After a disappointing Breeder’s Cup Turf, this one came back to win the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland. Jockey Luis Saez is winning at 16%, while trainer Bill Mott is winning at a tick lower at 15%. Their running style is that of a pacer, which I think suits them well here as they will get first run at the pacesetters. Morning line odds are 8/1. Their history on this track is just alright, with three wins in ten tries. Although this one is the oldest in the field, there still could be a bit of magic left in this one to take some sort of placing.
