Value plays for Belmont Park's Man o' War Saturday stakes

Belmont Park has carded five stakes races on Saturday, billed the Man o' War Racing Festival, so let's see if we can find some money making opportunities in the week between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Race 7: Beaugay Stakes (G3)

8.5 furlongs inner turf - 4:45 p.m. ET

Favorite: #3 Competitionofideas (7-5) makes her first start since scoring as my best bet top choice in the American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita Park in December. She won both of her local turf starts at this distance last year for Chad Brown.

Value Play: #5 Homerique (9-5) is also trained by Chad Brown and should be a higher price than her aforementioned stablemate. She won a group three at Deauville last summer and shows two turf bullets for this. She could easily be this good but might want more ground.

Live Longshot: #2 Andina Del Sur (5-1) could end up playing catch me if you can in a pace puzzler. She enters in decent form and attended the pace and finished 2nd in the local Pebbles Stakes on soft turf last year.

Wagers: #5 to win, Exacta 5/2-3, Exacta 2-3/5, Trifecta 3-5/2-3-5/2-3-5

Race 9: Runhappy Stakes

Six furlongs - 5:51 p.m. ET

Favorites: #5 Recruiting Ready (8-5) drew well and is 5-for-10 at this distance. He had an uncomfortable trip in the Commonwealth (G3) at seven panels last time, but should be in for a nice early-pressing journey today. #2 Skyler's Scramjet (2-1) has dropped seven straight but landed the place in four of those stakes tries. He is 4-for-8 at this distance. 

Value Play: #3 Firenze Fire (7-2) is 2-for-2 at Belmont Park, and his most impressive race by far was a runaway victory in the local Dywer (G3) last summer. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides him well and he should offer a hint of value. 

Live Longshot: #4 Killybegs Captain (9-2) is sharp and fresh, and he owns early-pressing versatility. He stretched out and ran well in the Challenger Stakes last time, and he won back-to-back dirt sprints before that.

Wagers: #3 to win, Exacta 3/2-4-5, Exacta 3-4-5/2, Daily Double (races 9-10): 3-2, Daily Double (races 9-10): 3/2-4-6-7, Daily Double (races 9-10): 2-3-4-5/2 

Race 10: Man o’ War Stakes (G1)

11 furlongs inner turf - 6:24 p.m. ET

Favorite: #6 Focus Group (5-2) just got there as the favorite in his Pan American (G2) return at a mile and a half. He is 0-for-4 at Belmont and 2-for-2 at this distance. He has no margin for error in this competitive event. 

Value Play: #2 Zulu Alpha (4-1) was not able to work out the best trip from the outside post in the Elkhorn (G2) on April 20, and he was an OK third (beaten one length) that day. I like his tactical speed and inner post Saturday, and his new rider Javier Castellano should have him in the right spot throughout. He won the Mac Diarmida (G2) in his lone attempt at this distance.

Live Longshots: #4 Arklow (8-1) was very good last summer and fall, and he capped a productive 2018 campaign with a respectable fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf. He dropped rider Florent Geroux in his first start this year, and Brad Cox is 3-for-5 at Churchill Downs. #7 Epical (10-1) is a sharp SoCal shipper with running style versatility. He might get brave if left all alone on the early lead.

Wagers: #2 to win, Exacta 2/4-6-7, Exacta 4-6-7/2, Trifecta 2-6/ALL/4-7