How to bet the 2020 Belmont Oaks

Looking for an interesting handicapping challenge? Look no further than Saturday’s $250,000 Belmont Oaks (G1) at Belmont Park.

The 1 1/4-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies has attracted just five entries, so spreading deep to cover multiple potential winners isn’t recommended. Playing more than one filly on top could significantly reduce your return on investment, so the challenge is to identify the most likely winner and bet her hard on top.

From a class perspective, #2 Magic Attitude warrants deep respect. A daughter of superstar sire Galileo, out of the Group 1-winning sprinter Margot Did, Magic Attitude has performed well against tough company in France. After she opened the season with a comfortable score in the 1 1/8-mile Prix Vanteaux (G3), Magic Attitude proved her worth against Group 1 company when she finished second in the 1 1/4-mile Prix Alary (G1) and fifth in the prestigious 1 5/16-mile Prix de Diane (G1).

But Magic Attitude has never encountered a firm turf course. The harder, faster course at Belmont will be an unfamiliar obstacle for Magic Attitude when she makes her U.S. debut for new trainer Arnaud Delacour.

This could give an advantage to #5 Antoinette, a Godolphin homebred in hot form for trainer Bill Mott.

After she placed in four straight stakes to start the season, including the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on dirt, Antoinette enjoyed a switch to turf for the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks. After she set the pace under jockey John Velazquez, Antoinette dug deep when challenged in the homestretch and finished the final three-sixteenths in a rapid :17.29 to prevail by a half-length.

Antoinette’s tactical speed will be a major asset in the Belmont Oaks, since there isn’t much speed in the small field. The daughter of Hard Spun figures to enjoy a perfect trip, setting or stalking the pace, with #1 Setting the Mood her only serious rival for early supremacy, and this forwardly placed journey should give Antoinette a tactical advantage over Magic Attitude.

We’ll focus on the trifecta for our primary wager, with Antoinette over Magic Attitude for the top two slots.

$10 trifecta: 5 with 2 with 1,3,4 ($30)

Good luck!