Friday's Late Pick 4 Analysis at Belmont

Friday’s Late Pick 4 at Belmont (races 8-11) features a $500,000 guarantee and a pair of stakes. I’ll preview the sequence and play a pair of tickets below.

8^th race: The withdrawal of Private Zone reduces the field to five and Holy Boss (#1) is the one to catch from the rail. Fifth in the 7-furlong Churchill Downs (G2), the 4yo colt benefits from the cutback to 6-furlongs (4-for-8) and has registered triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings in the last three. I like him wire to wire and will save with ‘all’ on a back-up ticket.

9^th race: French Group 2 winner Sea Calisi (#1) merits serious respect following a 2 ½-length score in her U.S. bow, the May 7 Sheepshead Bay (G2), but the ground favored her (yielding course) and she’ll catch deeper company over firm turf today; I’m won’t single at short odds in a contentious field. Photo Call (#5) appears a legit wire-to-wire contender and I’ll add Dacita (#2) and Trophee (#3) to the mix.

10^th race: A dozen turf runners will square off in the 2-mile Belmont Gold Cup Invitational and distance specialist Now We Can (#13), a French Group 2 winner, appears fit and in good form from France. He’s my preferred single in the sequence and I’ll spread with ‘all’ on a back-up ticket.

11^th race: The Christophe Clement barn has been performing well, winning five races over the last nine programs at Belmont, and Great Skellig (#3) should relish the drop from maiden special weight to maiden claiming after facing Dream Doctor, who came right back to post a convincing allowance victory. Clement adds blinkers to keep Great Skellig focused after a wide trip last time and adds the hot-riding Jose Ortiz. I’ll also use Frat Brat (#2), Disco Bill (#6), Move Forward (#8) and Rooftop View (#9) on the main ticket.

Main Ticket (races 8-11)

.50 Pick 4: All with 1,2,3,5 with 13 with 2,3,6,8,9 ($50)

Back-Up Ticket (races 8-11)

.50 Pick 4: 1 with 1,2,3,5 with All with 3 ($24)