Saturday Plays: Pick 3s and backwheels on Belmont day

Short fields with heavy favorites comprise some of the key races on the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes card on Saturday. Still, there are some decent betting races with more sizable fields, including the Grade 1, $400,000 Jaipur Stakes and Grade 1, $750,000 Manhattan Stakes.

                     Click here for Belmont Entries, Results. 

The Jaipur and Manhattan are connected to the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game Stakes as part of a unique Pick 3 sequence. Here are picks for the All Turf, All-Grade 1 Triple Play and the final Belmont Stakes wagers.

All Turf, All-Grade 1 Triple Play

Belmont Race 4: Just a Game Stakes (G1)

Without any pace to close into, Speak of the Devil came from seven lengths behind in the Distaff Turf Mile (G1) to mow down her stablemate In Italian and win by a clear 2 3/4 lengths on the Derby undercard.

Granted, the assignment is more difficult this time with Speak of the Devil's tougher Chad Brown-trained stablemate Regal Glory present in the race. But, Speak of the Devil looks like the more exciting Brown entrant and there is little difference between them in terms of odds.

The excellent turf jockey Flavien Prat stays on board. 

Even at low odds, Speak of the Devil is the single in the first leg of the All Turf, All-Grade 1 Triple Play. She has the potential to become a star. 

Win: 3 (at even money or higher)

All Turf, All-Grade 1 Triple Play: 3 / 5 / 8,9

Belmont Race 8: Jaipur Stakes (G1)

In a 13-horse turf sprint, it might seem tempting to search for a longshot. On paper though, Arrest Me Red faces no significant pace threat up front.

Arrest Me Red is also on fire with four wins in his last five starts. Most recently, he won the 5 1/2-furlong Turf Sprint Stakes (G2) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard by 1 3/4 lengths while using stalking tactics.

To show how moderate the pace in the Jaipur looks, TimeformUS Pace Projector puts Arrest Me Red on the lead with only the mild speed threat True Valour nearby. Arrest Me Red should handle True Valour up front.

Arrest Me Red’s connections are familiar names with Wesley Ward training for Lael Stables. Irad Ortiz Jr. hops on board for the fourth time on this colt.

With the pace scenario on his side, Arrest Me Red is the single.

Belmont Race 10: Manhattan Handicap (G1)

Here is a good race to get creative in the sequence.

Santin makes his debut at 1 1/4 miles after winning the nine-furlong Turf Classic Stakes (G1) by a neck on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

In the Turf Classic, Santin went through a fast pace as the presser. According to TimeformUS, Santin’s pace figures were 143, 143, 136 and 131. Yet, Santin kept fighting in the stretch and held off Mira Mission.

Highland Chief won the local Man o’ War Stakes (G1) by a length over Gufo a few weeks ago. The betting public is not going to respect Highland Chief yet though unless he wins another important turf race. On the morning line, Highland Chief is an attractive 6-1, while Gufo is 3-1, even though Highland Chief beat him fair and square last time.

Given his value, Highland Chief deserves a spot in tickets.

Belmont Race 11: Belmont Stakes

After rethinking the Belmont order of finish post, We the People gets a downgrade because of his lack of value as only a Grade 3 winner, while Creative Minister moves up as proven Grade 1-placed runner and the only horse slated to run near We the People according to TimeformUS.

Mo Donegal is still the most likely winner based on his Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) win over Early Voting and closing fifth in the Kentucky Derby.

Rich Strike deserves respect as the Kentucky Derby winner because did some real running in the stretch. Perhaps handicappers could not see his improved dirt form because he spent most of the spring on synthetic. 

Barber Road loves to pick up minor checks. His Derby run is underrated, as he went wide on the far turn and ended up in sixth and only a length behind Mo Donegal at the finish. He could hit the board here at 10-1.

With Barber Road more likely to finish underneath than win, he gets the exacta and trifecta backwheel treatment in the final wagers listed below.

Exacta wheel: 4,5,6 / 8

Trifecta wheel: 4,5,6 / 4,5,6 / 8