NYRA's Andy Serling previews 2020 Belmont Stakes and Pick 5
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New York Racing Association analyst Andy Serling provided his insight to Saturday's 2020 Belmont Stakes, as he shared horses he was willing to use in the pick 5 culminating in Belmont Park's Classic race.
Beginning with race 6, the "Belmont Stakes" pick 5 is one of three five-race horizontal wagering sequences available on Saturday's Belmont Park card.
The Wonder Again (G3), with an approximate post time of 3:01 p.m. Eastern is the first leg of the pick 5 and Serling believes Highland Glory is the standout in the race, and the one he will feature on most tickets.
Coming off a second-place finish last out in Gulfstream Park's Honey Ryder last month, Serling felt Highland Glory had legitimate excuses as to why she finished second behind Micheline.
“She didn’t break,” Serling said. “She got steadied out of the race in the first turn, taken totally out of position and really had an absolute nightmare trip and ran well to be second. Highland Glory is my top choice here.”
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While Highland Glory will be Serling's top choice in the five horse field Wonder Again, he also will use Selflessly on some tickets.
“With her stalking style and the fact that she’ll be sitting third or fourth early in here, I think she fits this race perfectly,” Serling said. “She didn’t run that badly with a wide trip in the Breeders’ Cup and coming off the layoff for trainer Chad Brown, she might be the horse to beat.”
Serling also mentioned using Sweet Melania and Antoinette as other choices in the Wonder Again.
“Antoinette is an improved horse and maybe she’s a better turf horse,” Serling said. “Maybe getting back to the turf will help her.”
The seventh race on the Belmont Park card is an allowance race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going six furlongs on the turf.
Serling suggests using 5-2 morning line favorite My Sassy Sarah and 8-1 Speightstown Gal as top choices in the race.
He will use Strongerthanuknow and Light in the Sky as 'B' choices in the second leg of the pick 5.
The Grade 1 Acorn is the middle leg of the pick 5.
Serling is very high on Bob Baffert's even-money morning line favorite Gamine. He suggests using her as an 'A' choice in the pick 5.
“If you’re going to go deeper in some of the other races, you may want to single and lean very heavily on Gamine,” Serling said. “I think she’s way the horse to beat.”
Serling will use Casual, Perfect Alibi and Pleasant Orb as 'B' choices on other tickets.
RELATED: Free Past Performances
“This nine year old has barely lost a step,” Serling said. “Six furlongs is a little past his best, but he has won this race before. And he lost all chance in his last start, the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, when he blew the break. He needs to get out and be the speed.”
Serling suggests spreading in the Jaipur, using a combination of Pure Sensation, Oleksandra, Kanthaka, Stubbins and Hidden Scroll on tickets.
“This might be the time that everyone has finally given up on Hidden Scroll and declared him a money burner,” Serling said. “If you thought he was a turf horse and you’re somebody who bet him as the favorite in that tough allowance race last time, are you so sure you don’t want to give him a shot in this race?”
Serling believes Hidden scroll could go off at win odds of between 6-1 and 8-1.
In the final race of the sequence, the Belmont Stakes, Serling will lean heavily on 6-5 favorite Tiz the Law.
“You know the drill,” Serling said. “This horse has been perfectly trained up to this race by Barclay Tagg. He has used every single one of his races as a prep to get him to these big races and I am not in any way against Tiz the Law. He is an ‘A’ and a major player on all of my tickets.”
While Serling will be rooting for the Holy Bull (G3) and Florida Derby (G1) victor to win his third consecutive race, he will also use Max Player, Tap It to Win and Sole Volante as 'B' plays.
“If this race falls apart, Sole Volante will come running at the end,” Serling said.
Serling also noted he may use Dr Post as a 'C' in the Belmont Stakes.
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