HorseCenter: Analysis and picks for Belmont Derby, Oaks

This week on HorseCenter, your hosts Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman take to the turf to offer analysis and picks for the $1 million Belmont Derby and the $700,000 Belmont Oaks. The pair of Grade 1 turf races from Belmont Park have attracted strong international fields.

The large purses in Saturday’s races accomplished their purpose of creating big fields and getting horses from overseas. Big-name trainers such as Charlie Appleby and Joseph and Aidan O’Brien have brought their 3-year-olds to New York, setting up competitive matchups with top American trainers Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher and Graham Motion.

The Belmont Oaks and Derby are part of a card in New York that includes four graded stakes races with purse money of $2.25 million. The Suburban (G2) will serve as a local prep race for the Saratoga Grade 1s such as the Whitney and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Matt and Brian took time from their vacations to produce HorseCenter this week and, as always, we want to thank you for watching the show.