The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga: Saturday, June 6
It is Belmont time at Saratoga! “Let ‘em Run” is here to break down the Late Pick 5 for Saturday, June 6, 2026, culminating in the third leg of the Triple Crown: the Belmont Stakes.
Be sure to catch our Happy Hour Show on Friday at 3:00 PM, and our Saturday Morning Preview at 12:30 PM. Both shows will feature live coverage from Saratoga with John Kostin and friend of the show, guest handicapper Wadie Khalaf. You can catch our live broadcast and previous episodes on the Sports Talk Media Network, as well as multiple streaming apps and social channels.
The Late Pick 5 Analysis: Races 9–13
Race 9 (4:13 PM EST): The Jaipur (Gr1)
5 ½ Furlongs | Turf | $500,000 The Pick 5 sequence kicks off with a challenging puzzle. At 5 ½ furlongs, the trip means everything. While we often single the first leg of a sequence, we aren’t doing that here. The class of the field, #3 Litigation (7-2) and #6 Ag Bullet (3-1), have both run races that look strong in this spot. Additionally, #10 My Boy Prince (5-1) drew a nice post to give jockey Jose Ortiz options; he just missed last out after winning three in a row. We are going deep here to look for a price.
Race 10 (4:52 PM EST): The Woody Stephens (G1)
7 Furlongs | Dirt | $500,000 The tricky seven-furlong distance awaits bettors. Experience at this “specialist” distance matters immensely for both horse and rider. There is enough speed signed on to set up for a closer, and we like #6 Crude Velocity (9-5) to do the job. Of the speed entered, if a runner is going to take them gate-to-wire, we like #3 Six Speed (10-1) with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for trainer George Weaver. The edge in overall experience goes to #5 Solitude Dude (6-1) with Flavien Prat riding for Saffie Joseph Jr. Recent workouts suggest this runner is ready to fire a big one.
Race 11 (5:32 PM EST): The Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (Gr1)
1 Mile | Dirt | $1,000,000#6 Knightsbridge (7-2) will likely get plenty of company up front from #4 Saudi Crown (8-1)and others, effectively setting the table for our top pick: #7 Journalism (5-2). He has never backed down from elite competition like White Abario or Forever Young. Coming in second off the layoff with the highest last-race speed rating makes him the standout. With a TimeformUS Late Pace figure of 123 and a favorable outside post, he is our “single” for the ticket.
Race 12 (6:11 PM EST): The Manhattan (Gr1)
1 3/16 Miles | Turf | $1,000,000 This is another fantastic betting race. Our pick is #7 Rhetorical (2-1), out of the barn of my favorite new trainer, William Walden. I believe Walden is the next “super trainer” in the making. This runner posted a field-best 107 Beyer Speed Figure in his last victory. Now third off the layoff and coming off a bullet workout on May 30, he is ready. We used five runners total on our main P5 ticket, but we wouldn’t fault anyone for singling him here.
Race 13 (7:04 PM EST): The Belmont Stakes (Gr1)
1 ¼ Miles | Dirt | $2,000,000 Now for the main course: the Belmont Stakes, run for the third and final time at Saratoga before returning to the new Belmont Park. This field is a beauty, featuring five Kentucky Derby alumni. We like #8 Emerging Market (6-1) best. He lost a shoe during his move in the Derby, which clearly hindered Flavien Prat’s ability to navigate. Prat is undoubtedly looking for redemption. #2 Powershift (12-1) is an interesting longshot for Todd Pletcher with Luis Saez taking the mount. While many think he’s a “rabbit” for stablemate #4 Renegade (2-1), we disagree—he has the talent to stay.
The “Partner Pick 5” Ticket
We call this a “Partner Pick” because sharing the cost makes these deep tickets affordable and fun!
We are banking on our single in Race 11, #7 Journalism, to hold the ticket together. Be sure to tune in Saturday at 12:30 PM for updates after scratches and track changes.
And remember: Bet smart, cheer hard, fast horses equal serious fun, and in the end… let ’em run!
