True North Stakes exotics play for Belmont Park June 10

Champion male sprinter Jackie’s Warrior will headline a field of six in the $300,000 True North S. (G2) on Friday at Belmont Park.

Below we give you our full field analysis and best exotics plays for Race 9, including exacta, trifecta, and superfecta tickets for the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 stakes race for four-year-olds and up.

#1 Mr Phil (5-1): The five-year-old gelding is 3-for-3 since joining the stable of Rob Atras, a 25% winner (8-for-32) winner at Belmont this meet. The bay makes a move up in class in his first graded-stakes effort following a 1 1/2-length victory in an $80,000 optional claimer at this track May 22, in which he clocked a 102 Brisnet Speed figure at seven furlongs, tied for the highest last race speed rating.

Kendrick Carmouche, a 35% winner when pairing up with Atras over the last two months, will retain the mount.

#2 War Tocsin (30-1): The six-year-old Violence gelding has early speed but tends to fade down the stretch. In four starts this season, he has a second-place showing in the General George S. (G3) at Laurel and a third in the Maryland Sprint S. (G3) on the Preakness undercard. His last win came 12 starts back in an allowance optional claiming race at Parx in April 2021.

Trainer Uriah St. Lewis is just a 5% winner in 346 sprint starts over the last three years and a 4% winner with shippers.

#3 Jackie’s Warrior (2-5): Since making his return from a disappointing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, Jackie’s Warrior has seemingly regained his form, going 2-for-2 to start his four-year-old campaign, with victories in the Count Fleet H. (G3) and Churchill Downs S. (G1).

The Steve Asmussen pupil has one win (2020 Champagne S.) and a neck second (2021 Woody Stephens S.) at this track and has consistently posted triple-digit Speed figures at sprint distances over his last seven starts, save for his setback in the Breeders’ Cup.

Joel Rosario, a 19% winner this meet, stays in the silks.

#4 Baby Yoda (8-1): Four-year-old Baby Yoda was last seen winning a six-furlong allowance on May 5 at Churchill Downs, where he beat next-our winner Divine Leader by 1 1/4 lengths. His recent Speed figures have dipped compared to where he was performing last fall, but the Malibu Moon grandson can contend for the minor awards in his third start off a layoff for conditioner Bill Mott. Rosario guided Baby Yoda in his last two starts but will board Jackie’s Warrior on Friday. Luis Saez, a 25% winner in sprints the last two months, will pick up the mount.

#5 Night Time (12-1): Last out, in his season debut, the five-year-old Dale Romans trainee was set to return to turf in a 5 1/2-furlong optional claimer that was moved to the Churchill Downs dirt, where he clocked a 99 BRIS figure in a 2 1/4-length victory. The chestnut will move up in class in his first graded stakes try and make a rider change with Javier Castellano.

Romans is a 9% winner this season and a 7% winner in graded stakes the last three years.

#6 Sound Money (9-2): Perhaps the most dangerous rival for Jackie’s Warrior will be Sound Money, a four-year-old Flatter colt who cuts back to a sprint distance after racing one mile at his last three starts.

Trainer Chad Brown, a red-hot 37% winner at Belmont this meet, is a 26% winner with horses going from route distances to sprints and a 22% winner in graded stakes races over the last three years.

Sound Money will also have an equipment change, with his blinkers removed - a move that yields a 35% win rate for Brown.

Last out, Sound Money finished second in the one-mile Westchester S. (G3) in his first start at Belmont and flashed a 110 E1 and 119 E2 rating. Adding to the appeal, Irad Ortiz Jr., who is 28-for-89 (31%) this meet, will jump in the irons.

True North S. exotics wagers

• $10 Exacta: 6 with 3 ($10)
• $4 Trifecta: 3, 6 with 3, 6 with 1, 4 ($16)
• $1 Superfecta: 3, 6 with 3, 6 with 1, 4, 5 with 1, 4, 5 ($12)