Belmont At The Big A Picks & Predictions — June 12, 2026
This card ran on June 12, 2026.
Best bets at Belmont At The Big A, June 12, 2026
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It's a clear, hot Friday at Aqueduct's temporary home, with temperatures pushing 87°F and plenty of sunshine — the kind of afternoon where the turf course figures to play fast and the dirt strip rewards early speed. We've got a full 10-race card on tap, mixing dirt and turf action across a variety of conditions from maiden claimers all the way up to allowance optional claiming company.
Today's card leans heavily on the grass, with five of the ten races contested on turf — and the warm, dry conditions should keep that surface firm and fair. Our TrackWiz models have crunched through the full field, and there's a nice mix of confident top picks and a few spots where the morning line leaves value on the table. Three of today's races are available free to all readers, giving everyone a solid starting point before the first post.
Best Bets
Race 1
Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt
The morning-line favorite looks vulnerable here, as the TrackWiz ratings tell a very different story — the top-rated horse goes postward at 5/1, creating a potential overlay situation in this 6-furlong starter optional claiming opener.
Southeastern earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 84.17, a clear edge over every other contender. Linda Rice conditions this one, and her barn has consistently produced sharp efforts on the Big A dirt. At 5/1 on the morning line, this horse represents real overlay potential considering the rating advantage — that's a number that would normally attract a much shorter price.
Felonious brings the second-highest rating in the field at 79.19 and gets Flavien Prat in the irons — a combination that's hard to dismiss in a race like this. A 16% career win rate is modest, but this horse's profile fits a place spot nicely at a workable 7/2 price.
Special Ops is the morning-line favorite at 9/5 with Manuel Franco up, and while the 76.89 TrackWiz rating trails the top two, Franco's tactical ability in a sprint could keep this one honest. The 16% career win rate mirrors Felonious's, but the shorter price makes it more useful as a show hedge in exacta or trifecta construction.
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Bottom line: today at Belmont at the Big A offers a well-rounded card with legitimate opportunities on both surfaces. Our free best bets — Southeastern, Agia Marina, and Opulent Restraint — give casual players a strong foundation, while the full premium breakdown covers every angle across all 10 races. As always, no locks exist in racing, but our TrackWiz analysis is designed to put you on the right side of the odds more often than not. Good luck, and play smart.