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Belmont At The Big A Picks & Predictions — June 18, 2026

June 18, 20268 racesAll Aqueduct picks

This card ran on June 18, 2026.

Best bets at Belmont At The Big A, June 18, 2026

Race 15Long Term MarketML 6/51:10 PM EDT

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It's a pleasant Thursday afternoon at Belmont At The Big A — partly cloudy skies, 78°F, and a firm surface that should play fair for both the dirt and turf runners. Eight races are on the card today, mixing maiden sprints, allowance routes, and a couple of claiming affairs that tend to produce some of the best betting opportunities of any given week.

The card has a nice flow to it. The early races give you a chance to warm up in maiden company before the meat of the card arrives in Races 3 through 8, where experienced horses and tighter class conditions make for more reliable form reading. Two standout allowance runners — Concurrently in Race 3 and Dreamlike in Race 5 — look like the day's marquee contenders and could anchor a strong mid-card double.

TrackWiz analysis has rated three races as free previews today, including both MSW openers and the Race 3 allowance. The remaining five races, where the real ticket-building opportunities live, are available to subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

1:10 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Dirt

A tale of two Chad Brown-trained maidens at the top of the market — this mile opener looks like a two-horse show with a potential price lurking underneath.

win5Long Term MarketML 6/5

Long Term Market (5) sits at the top of our TrackWiz ratings at 59.67 and carries the best average speed figure in the field at 56 — a full two ticks clear of the next best. Flavien Prat gets the call, and Prat doesn't waste trips on horses he doesn't like. As a Chad Brown first-timer on the dirt going a mile, expect a patient stalk-and-pounce setup that suits this distance perfectly.

place4Phantom BlueML 7/5

Phantom Blue (4) is the morning-line favorite at 7/5 and carries a nearly identical TrackWiz rating of 59.33 — this is a razor-thin separation between the top two. Dylan Davis is a solid pilot and William Walden has his horse ready; if Long Term Market hits any traffic or doesn't fire, Phantom Blue is right there to inherit the exacta.

show3JadorlinijaML 6/1

Jadorlinija (3) at 6/1 is worth a look as the third wheel in this exotic. Miguel Clement has quietly been sharp with debut types, and a 51.67 TrackWiz rating keeps this one clearly ahead of the rest of the field. At that price, tossing her into trifecta coverage makes plenty of sense.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

1:41 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A wide-open maiden turf sprint loaded with first-time starters — when nobody has a proven speed figure, trainer and jockey connections become the great equalizer.

win2Fire MarshalML 5/2

Fire Marshal (2) tops our TrackWiz ratings at 57.50 and draws the services of Flavien Prat, who is as sharp as anyone at getting debut juveniles tuned up and ready to run. Trainer Michael J. Maker has a well-documented record of firing first-time turf runners, and the 5/2 morning line reflects legitimate confidence from the connections. In a field where nearly everyone is an unknown quantity, that combination of elite jockey and savvy barn is a meaningful edge.

place9Arctic WolfML 7/2

Arctic Wolf (9) at 7/2 is the second-highest-rated horse in the field at 55.83 and gets Ricardo Santana Jr. up — a rider who knows how to navigate a turf sprint from the outside post. The price is fair and the TrackWiz number suggests this one belongs near the top of the exacta.

show4River of DeceitML 9/2

River of Deceit (4) rates third in this field at 54.17 with Junior Alvarado, a quality turf hand, in the irons for trainer Thomas Morley. When you can't separate these maiden turf debutants cleanly on form, leaning toward the proven jockey-booking tier makes sense, and Alvarado's name on this ticket is a quiet vote of confidence.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Our three free races today span a mile on dirt, a 5½-furlong turf sprint, and a one-mile allowance optional claiming on dirt — a nice cross-section of the card. Long Term Market opens the day as the heavy morning-line favorite at 6/5 in the maiden special weight, while Fire Marshal gets the nod on the turf in Race 2 at a more workable 5/2. The headliner of the free group is Concurrently in Race 3, who carries an 89.12 TrackWiz rating — the second-highest mark on the entire card — and goes as the 8/5 morning-line choice against allowance foes.

With the partly cloudy conditions and temperatures in the comfortable mid-70s, there's no weather-related surface concern to navigate today — the turf should be riding firm and the dirt track consistent. That kind of neutral canvas tends to reward horses with genuine back-class and reliable figures, which is exactly why Concurrently is a race to circle before the card gets rolling.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

2:12 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Concurrently is a massive class standout in this allowance optional claimer — the real question is who runs second behind the Chad Brown probable steamroller.

win2ConcurrentlyML 8/5

Concurrently (2) is the dominant figure on our TrackWiz model with a staggering 89.12 rating — nearly 30 points clear of the second-best horse in the race. The 25% career win rate is strong for an allowance runner, the average speed figure of 53 is respectable, and Flavien Prat aboard a Chad Brown dirt miler at this level is one of the safest bets on the card. At 8/5, the price reflects the reality, but this is a horse you build exotics around.

place4People WatchingML 6/1

People Watching (4) rates at 59.24 and has a solid 33% career win percentage that suggests she fires regularly when conditions are right. Kendrick Carmouche is a capable handler for trainer Thomas Proctor at a mile on dirt, and at 6/1 on the morning line she offers real value as the most logical contender behind the heavy favorite.

show6Hand Over HeartML 3/1

Hand Over Heart (6) is interesting as the other Chad Brown runner in the field — the 100% career win rate is a small-sample headline, but it means this horse has shown up every time she's been sent out. Dylan Davis is a trusted pilot, and the 3/1 morning line tells you Brown's barn views both entries as legitimate. In trifecta play, she's a logical anchor for the third spot.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 4

2:43 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A deep maiden sprint for fillies and mares with no clear speed figures to lean on — trainer and jockey pedigree do the heavy lifting in a race that could go several ways.

win5Wildest DreamsML 7/2

Wildest Dreams (5) earns the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 55.83 and gets Flavien Prat for trainer Jeremiah Englehart, a combination that consistently fires in maiden sprints at the Big A. At 7/2 on the morning line, the price is fair for the top-rated horse with a top-tier jockey booking — Prat doesn't accept mounts he doesn't believe in. In a first-time-starter-heavy field, this is the clearest architectural advantage in the race.

place4Legacy LadyML 4/1

Legacy Lady (4) is just a tick below at 55.00 on the TrackWiz scale and Edgard Zayas is a savvy turf and dirt handler who can get the best out of a first-time runner. Trainer Jorge Delgado is a local conditioner who knows the Big A strips, and the 4/1 morning line is a workable price for exotic play.

show2AnnotateML 5/1

Annotate (2) at 5/1 brings a significant trainer angle — Steven Asmussen is one of the winningest conditioners in North American racing and he doesn't ship a maiden to Belmont without a purpose. Ricardo Santana Jr. up adds further credibility. The 53.33 TrackWiz rating keeps her competitive, and at 5/1 she's a smart trifecta inclusion.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 5

3:14 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 3/8 mi · Turf

Dreamlike looks like a standout in a full field allowance turf route, but several horses cluster tightly at the top of the ratings, making the underneath spots genuinely contentious.

win9DreamlikeML 7/5

Dreamlike (9) is the top-rated horse on the TrackWiz model with an 89.42 — a number that stands well above the competition in a race with plenty of live horses. The 7/5 morning line makes her the chalk, but a rating that dominant earns the favorite tag honestly. Kendrick Carmouche navigates turf routes with composure, and Linda Rice is sharp when she sends out a horse at this distance on the lawn. At 1 3/8 miles, the extra ground should be no issue.

place8Mayor of MidnightML 4/1

Mayor of Midnight (8) at 4/1 is the second-highest-rated horse at 69.97 and has a 33% career win rate — the best win percentage among any horse in this field with meaningful starts. Manuel Franco in the irons and trainer Riley Mott running at a mile-and-three-eighths suggests this horse is built for the long haul. He's a legitimate threat to sweep the exacta.

show12OtelloML 4/1

Otello (12) rates at 68.51 with a 23% career win rate and comes in with Manuel Franco — a busy and effective turf route jockey on this circuit. Rob Atras is a patient trainer who picks his spots well. At 4/1, this is a horse that can slot comfortably into trifecta and superfecta coverage without feeling like a wing-and-a-prayer play.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Race 6

3:45 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A short-field maiden claimer on the dirt where the top two on the morning line are separated by half a point on our model — pace and post position could be the difference.

win6Kaz Farm GirlML 3/1

Kaz Farm Girl (6) leads the TrackWiz ratings at 61.17, a clear margin above the competition, and draws Dylan Davis who has been riding with authority at this meet. Trainer Dimitrios Synnefias has this filly at the top of his game based on her average speed figure of 53, and at 3/1 morning line, she's the class of this field without breaking the bank. The six-furlong distance on dirt is a solid fit for what figures to be a forward pace style.

place7LuckbeourladyML 5/2

Luckbeourlady (7) at 5/2 is the second choice on the morning line and carries a 57.50 TrackWiz rating — the second-best mark in the race. Manuel Franco up for Miguel Clement is a sharp pairing, and Clement trains winners at a steady clip at this level. If Kaz Farm Girl gets any pressure early, Franco will be ready to capitalize late.

show3Coco d'OroML 4/1

Coco d'Oro (3) at 4/1 ties Camille's Legacy for third on the TrackWiz scale at 55.00 but gets the edge in jockey quality with Jaime Rodriguez aboard for Amelia Green's barn. A 4/1 price on a horse that rates as a logical third-best makes her a natural trifecta inclusion, especially in a short field where the race could get messy up front.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 7

4:16 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

Lady Rose is a short-priced standout in this starter optional claimer, but Dee's On Dow looms as a sneaky value threat from a double-digit morning line.

win5Lady RoseML 5/2

Lady Rose (5) earns an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — second-highest on the entire card today — and carries a career win rate of 33% that speaks to consistent execution. Jose Lezcano is an underrated big-meet rider who excels at this level, and trainer Linda Rice clearly loves this race: she saddles two runners here and Lady Rose is the one that got the shorter price. At seven furlongs on dirt, the trip sets up perfectly for a horse with her speed profile and an average speed figure of 54.

place6Dee's On DowML 10/1

Dee's On Dow (6) is our value play at 10/1 on the morning line — that price looks generous for a horse with a 50% career win rate, the best in the field by a wide margin. An average speed figure of 55 is also the highest in the race. Edgard Zayas is a capable handler and trainer Jorge Delgado knows how to place runners in spots they can win. At double digits, she belongs in every exacta and trifecta ticket.

show4Gracie's DelightML 4/1

Gracie's Delight (4) at 4/1 rates at 72.98 with a 28% career win rate, and Ricardo Santana Jr. gets the mount for Linda Rice — meaning Rice has the second and third slots covered with two legitimate horses. Santana doesn't get on also-rans; at this price and with these credentials, she's a reliable show anchor and a serious exacta threat.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 8

4:47 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A full thirteen-horse turf mile claiming field where Leslie's Star emerges as a clear model top pick, but several live horses cluster tightly near the top — this race is built for exotics.

win8Leslie's StarML 5/1

Leslie's Star (8) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.17 — a substantial margin over the next tier — and posts the best average speed figure in the field at 56. Trainer Linda Rice runs a sharp barn on the turf mile, and Jose Lezcano is a seasoned pilot who handles grass routes with patience and precision. A 11% career win rate in a field full of similar types still puts her ahead of most on the sheet, and that speed advantage at a mile on the lawn is the key edge.

place13KareyML 5/1

Karey (13) is an intriguing play at 5/1 with a 72.92 TrackWiz rating and a 9% career win rate that may actually undersell her current form — trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci also runs Amelia's Echo in this race, and when a barn doubles up, it often means they know one of them is live. Christopher Elliott has shown up on the right horses at key moments this meet.

show5GreyjoyML 12/1

Greyjoy (5) at 12/1 morning line is the most glaring value discrepancy in this race — a 72.18 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win rate on a horse the morning line makes a longshot. The average speed figure of 55 is tied for the best in the field, Dylan Davis is an accomplished turf jockey, and trainer John Terranova has placed horses well on this circuit all meet. That 12/1 number looks like an opportunity in trifecta and superfecta tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 13 runners

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Today's best bets center on Concurrently (Race 3) as the free-card standout and Dreamlike (Race 5) as the premium headliner — two high-rated allowance runners on a card that rewards sharp form analysis over blind chalk-following. Leslie's Star at 5/1 in the Race 8 turf claiming also catches the eye as a potential value play. Full pace projections, exotic breakdowns, and the complete eight-race analysis are waiting for subscribers — upgrade your TrackWiz account and don't leave tickets on the table.

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