Belmont at the Big A features four graded stakes on Saturday’s 11-race card and Iron Bets is offering $20 Money Back Specials on two of the contests.
The stakes action kicks off early in the card as just five entered to go in the $400,000 Man O’ War (G2) at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.
The other graded stakes on tap are the $175,00 John A. Nerud (G2) at six furlongs on the main track, the one mile $200,000 Ruffian (G2) for fillies and mares and the $200,000 Peter Pan (G3), which serves as a prep for the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Also on the card is the $150,000 Take the A Train at six furlongs on the outer turf. A field of 11 three-year-old fillies entered, with 10 to run.
The Ruffian and Peter Pan are $20 Money Back Specials at Iron Bets. Get up to $20 back on your first win bet in each race if your pick does not win and runs either second or third. It is also Super Saturday. Make $250 or more in Superfecta bets on any tracks and earn a FREE $20 wager.
Belmont at the Big A Picks
Let’s take a quick look at the graded stakes action for Saturday at Belmont at the Big A:
Race 2 The $400,000 Man O’ War (G2) Post time 1: 47 ET
This race drew a surprising short field of just five and it is tough to knock the heavy favorite Far Bridge. The Clement trainee came back off nearly a five-month break with a game and hard-fought win in the Pan American (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The five-year-old had to steady heading into the first turn, saved ground, angled out to grab the lead in the stretch and held on gamely to win by a neck.
It was his third win in four starts. The loss was a ninth two back in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) behind repeat winner Rebel’s Romance, who won the HH Amor Trophy (G1) in Qatar on Feb. 15. Capture the Flag figures to be sent early and the chalk can get a good trip sitting just off the pace.
WIN: Far Bridge to win at 4-5 or better. EXACTA: 3 / 1,4
Race 7 The $175,000 John A Nerud (G3) Post time 4:40 ET
The cut back from seven furlongs to six looks like the key for Full Moon Madness. The Nevin trainee battled through sharp early fractions in the Carter (G2) and faded to finish seventh. The gelding won the Tom Fool (G3) two back at today’s distance over the main track here. The third-place finisher in that race was Top Gunner who came back to win an optional claimer at Keeneland in his next start. He owns a solid pace profile throughout and can sit just off a hot pace.
Whatchatalkinabout earned a career top Beyer last out trouncing state bred Alw-2 foes last out over the main track. The number seemed high but five he beat came back to run including the runner up Aggelos the Great who won at that level in his next start, his Beyer going from 89 to 92. The Ward trainee steps outside of the NY bred ranks for the first time and picks up Irad. He figures but the price is short.
WIN: Full Moon Madness to win at 5-2 or better. EXACTA: 1 / 3,5
Race 10 The $200,000 Ruffian (G2) Post time 6:16 ET
Eleven were entered in the Ruffian but trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. indicated he plans on scratching Claret Beret and Dazzling Move. It’s a wide open affair and the nod goes to Jody’s Pride, who was beaten a dozen lengths last out in the Azeri (G2) going two turns at Oaklawn Park. That was a good field, the winner was Thorpedo Anna, who won the Apple Blossom (G1) in her next outing before flopping in the La Troien (G1) at Churchill. The runner up Free LIke a Girl was a solid second in the Apple Blossom while fourth place finisher in the Azeri was Alpine Princess, who was the runner up in the Top Flight Invitational over the Big A main track on April 12. The cut back to a one turn mile suits her. She won the Busher in the slop at a mile here back in March of 2024.
My Mane Squeeze earned a solid number in a third-place finish in the seven-furlong Madison (G1) at Keeneland last out. She flattened out in the stretch and looks as if she will appreciate the stretch back out to a mile where she is 2 for 2. She should be tighter in her second start off a 5 ½ month break for the Maker barn.
WIN: Jody’s Pride to win at 7-2 or better. EXACTA: 8 / 3,4,10,11 and 8,10 / 3,8,10
Race 11 The $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) Post time 6:46 ET
The top three finishers in the Peter Pan earn a free ticket to the Belmont Stakes in four weeks. Hill Road is sent out by Chad Brown off a third-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his last start. That effort was off a four-month break where he raced next to last early and finished evenly, beaten 6 ¼ lengths by Owen Almighty. The winner came back to run sixth in the Blue Grass (G1) and a decent fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The fourth-place finisher Patch Adams came back with a 96 Beyer beating Alw-1 foes at Churchill Downs in his next start. Looks like he should get an honest pace in front of him, and Prat takes the call.
Uncaged was a smart looking winner last out in the mud beating Alw-1 optional claimers in his third career start going a mile over the main track here. It was his first go at a mile after going six furlongs in his first two career starts. Two back off the bench at Gulfstream Park he was fourth in his first start against winners. The winner of that race was Rolando who won the Hutcheson on March 15 in his next outing. The $450,000 Keeneland purchase is by Curlin out of a Pioneerof the Nile mare that was a G3 winner going two turns. He looks like he has plenty of upside and will be a fair price in this spot.
WIN: Hill Road to win at 5-2 or better. EXACTA: 4 / 1,6,8 and 4,6 / 4,6,8
