Road to the Breeders’ Cup Picks – Belmont Derby + Belmont Oaks

Three-year-old grass runners with Breeders’ Cup odds aspirations will help end the Belmont at The Big A meeting with a bang in Saturday’s Grade I Belmont Derby and Grade I Belmont Oaks.

Don’t miss my free betting picks for both turf tests on Saturday, July 6.

Belmont Derby odds, prediction and best bet

• Race: Belmont at The Big A Race 6
• Post time: 3:08 p.m. ET
• TV: FS2

Post	Horse	Track odds
1	Legend of Time	5-2	+175
2	White Palomino	5-1	+650
3	Royal Majesty	6-1	+1,000
4	Trikari	7-2	+500
5	Endlessly	6-5	+187

Odds as of 7-5-2024.

No. 1 Legend of Time (5-2) bounced back impressively from a dull effort in the Grade II American Turf two-back when he went from last to first to win the Grade II Pennine Ridge over this course. The victory came despite No. 2 White Palomino (5-1) having things all his own way up front, but he ultimately couldn’t hang on.

William Buick, the No. 1 pilot for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin racing, sees fit to ship in from overseas for the call on Legend of Time in this $750,000 event. 

No. 5 Endlessly (6-5, morning-line favorite) might get a little overbet based on name recognition after an ill-advised dirt try in the Kentucky Derby. The speed figures say that synthetic is his preferred surface after winning the Grade III Jeff Ruby Steaks two-back, but his juvenile form on grass (3-for-4) is nothing to sneeze at. 

Endlessly is a win threat with Umberto Rispoli making the cross-country trek for Michael McCarthy, but at this price, Legend of Time appeals more.

White Palomino should not be tossed from the exacta discussion as he makes just his fourth career start. The added 1/16th of a mile would imply that he’ll have an even harder time going gate-to-wire here (assuming he gets the lead over Trikari, which he might not), but he did break his maiden over 1 3/16th-miles at Keeneland two-back. You couldn’t ask for better turf connections on this side of the Atlantic in Flavien Prat and Chad Brown.

Best bet: $12 exacta 1/5, $3 exacta 5/1, $3 exacta 1/2, $2 exacta 5/2 ($20)

Belmont Oaks odds, prediction and best bet

• Race: Belmont at The Big A Race 9
• Post time: 4:42 p.m. ET
• TV: FS2

Post	Horse	Track odds
1	Pin Up Betty	10-1	+1,000
2	Dynamic Pricing	5-1	+500
3	Fun With Flags	10-1	+1,400
4	Buchu	10-1	+800
5	Secret Satire	8-1	+700
6	Segesta	6-1	+500
7	She Feels Pretty	2-1	+350
8	Cinderella’s Dream	9-2	+450
9	Sy B	15-1	+2,000

Odds as of 7-5-2024.

I’m going to side with a couple of fillies that I think might get lost in the wagering shuffle in a wide-open renewal of the Belmont Oaks in No. 5 Secret Satire (8-1) and No. 3 Fun With Flags (10-1).

Secret Satire lures Frankie Dettori off an ugly-looking 10th in the Epsom Oaks, one of England’s most prestigious turf races for three-year-olds. She cuts back and gets effective class relief as she looks for a repeat of her Grade III victory at York two-back going 1 5/16th-miles.

Fun With Flags won her first three starts before settling for second in her first try vs. group runners in France. The firmer ground on this side of the pond could aid her cause under Manny Franco.

Best bet: $4 exacta box 3/5, $6 win 3,5 ($20)

Road to the Breeders’ Cup Classic

*denotes “Win & You’re In” race for Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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