Daily Picks

Belmont At The Big A Picks & Predictions — June 27, 2026

Saturday, June 27, 202611 racesBelmont At The Big A

It's a cloudy Saturday at Aqueduct — or the Big A, as the Belmont meet rolls on — with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 80°F and 11 races on the board. The overcast sky is good news for the turf, keeping the ground from drying out too quickly, and we've got five grass races today to keep things interesting.

The card builds nicely toward a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming miles on dirt to close the afternoon, but the centerpiece is Race 8 — a 6-furlong Stakes sprint on the turf that has our analysts locked in. Sprinting on the grass at this distance is a specialized art, and the field today looks wide open enough to make for some juicy exotic opportunities.

Three races are free for every TrackWiz reader today, covering the first three races on the card. The remaining eight — including that Stakes gem in Race 8 — are available to subscribers. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

5:10 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A short-field claiming sprint where two horses clearly separate from the pack on paper — this figures to be a two-horse show with the rest playing for third.

win2Best ImpressionML 7/5

Best Impression tops our TrackWiz ratings at 89.42 — the highest mark in the field by a comfortable margin — and carries a 25% career win rate that stands above everyone else in this five-horse field. At 7/5 on the morning line she's the public's choice too, which means the market agrees. Trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci also has the stable's other entrant (Open Soul Autism) in here, so you know he's sending his better runner with confidence. At a short price, the best play is to use her underneath in exactas rather than straight win.

place1ProblematicaML 9/5

Problematica sits second in the TrackWiz ratings (77.2) and brings a 21% career win percentage — respectable for a claimer — with Manuel Franco, one of the meet's top pilots, getting the call. Even at 9/5 on the morning line she looks like a solid consolation play, and her rating gap over the third-ranked horse (Thelastbulletsmine at 66.47) gives her a clear edge for the runner-up spot.

show4ThelastbulletsmineML 5/1

Thelastbulletsmine at 5/1 offers solid exotic value as the third-best-rated horse in a short field. The 14% career win rate isn't flashy, but Dalila Rivera is capable of coaxing a solid effort, and with only five runners the show pool could pay reasonably well. Use her in the bottom slot of exactas and in trifecta construction.

Race 2

5:38 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A maiden claiming turf route full of winless horses, but three stand clearly above the field in our model — the question is which of the top trio gets into gear first on the grass.

win4Spinning ClassML EVN

Spinning Class is the morning-line favorite at even money and posts the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.14, with the best average speed figure (54) among the frontrunners. Claude McGaughey III is one of the sport's most respected horsemen with maidens, and Jose Lezcano knows how to pace a turf route. For a horse going maiden claiming on the grass, everything here points to a forward effort.

place7Two by Two by TwoML 8/5

Two by Two by Two (programNumber 7) is just a half-point behind Spinning Class in our ratings at 86.47 and comes in at 8/5 on the morning line — Brad Cox is a trainer who ships in ready horses, and having Manuel Franco up is a significant edge. If the favorite gets outrun early or misses a step on the turf, this one is right there to collect second money.

show1MappyML 5/1

Mappy is the third piece of this exacta/trifecta puzzle at 5/1, boasting a TrackWiz rating of 84.17 that keeps her firmly in the top cluster. George Weaver has a strong turf record and Edgard Zayas is a polished hand on the grass. At the price, she's an easy include in your exotics — the top three in our model are tightly bunched and she's the value option.

Race 3

6:06 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A one-mile dirt claimer headlined by a clear class standout going postward at a short number — the bigger story is who can chase him down and whether the pace holds up.

win4Calling CardML 2/1

Calling Card is the standout here with a 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the top mark in the field — and Michael Maker is a trainer who puts horses on the board consistently. Manuel Franco rides, giving this entry a legitimate jockey edge. The 2/1 morning line is short but reflects genuine superiority over this field; a 7% career win rate suggests he's been competitive at tougher levels without always closing the deal.

place2AntietamML 4/1

Antietam is our place pick at 4/1, rating 77.16 in our model for the second-best number in the field. Linda Rice conditions this one and Jose Lezcano rides — a sharp combination that shows up in exactas regularly at this meet. A 10% career win rate won't wow you, but in a field where most horses are clustered well below, Antietam has the profile of a consistent second-place type.

show6The ObliteratorML 7/2

The Obliterator brings a 66.25 TrackWiz rating and Edgard Zayas gets the mount at 7/2 on the morning line. With an 8% career win rate this isn't a horse who routinely finishes first, but Zayas is excellent at getting horses into the money, and at 7/2 in a show position there's genuine exotic value. He fits nicely in trifecta singling behind the top two.

Our three free plays today span a nice cross-section of the card. Best Impression opens the afternoon as a 7/5 morning-line favorite in a 6-furlong dirt Claiming sprint — a short field with a clear pace setup that suits a horse with her profile. In Race 2, Spinning Class heads to the turf for 1 1/16 miles as the even-money choice in a Maiden Claiming field; on a day where the turf should be playing fairly consistent, she's got the right running style to close efficiently. Race 3 brings Calling Card at 2/1 in a one-mile dirt Claiming route — an honest price for a horse our model grades at 88.54, which is one of the stronger ratings among today's free picks.

One thread connecting all three free races: the dirt looks like it will play fairly even today without any extreme speed or closer bias, so horses with tactical flexibility — able to sit close without burning out — have an edge. All three of our free picks fit that mold, which is part of why we like them.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:36 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

This 6½-furlong dirt claimer has a clear top choice on paper, but a couple of live pace pressers could keep things honest and set up a real battle through the stretch.

win8Dot's DollarML 2/1

Dot's Dollar is the standout — 88.54 TrackWiz rating, a 25% career win rate, and Manuel Franco in the irons. Trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci also has Classic Cut in here, but Dot's Dollar is the barn's top gun based on our ratings and the morning line backs that up at 2/1. An average speed figure of 54 matches the top of the field and the 25% win rate is elite for this level.

place3Spirit DragonML 5/1

Spirit Dragon at 5/1 is the value piece here — a 76.23 rating and a 30% career win rate, the highest in the field. Trainer Antonio Arriaga and Ruben Silvera form a workmanlike combination that often delivers in these mid-level claimers. At 5/1 with the best lifetime win percentage in the race, this is a horse who knows how to finish, and the place slot is where we're comfortable using him.

show1Classic CutML 3/1

Classic Cut (71.2 rating, 18% career win rate) anchors the show spot for us at 3/1. Silvestre Gonzalez rides for Kantarmaci, who clearly has confidence in this entrant as well. With a 54 average speed figure matching the top runners, Classic Cut has the raw material to collect a check — and at 3/1 in the show hole, he makes sense as a trifecta anchor.

Race 5

7:07 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Turf

A nine-horse turf sprint at 6 furlongs where the morning-line favorite looks vulnerable, and our top-rated horse is sitting right in the middle of the odds board — exactly the kind of race where value hides in plain sight.

win7SwagingML 9/2

Swaging tops our TrackWiz model at 84.9 and leads the field with a 55 average speed figure — one of the better raw numbers in this spot. Jose Lezcano trained by Linda Rice is a combination that consistently hits at this meet. At 9/2 on the morning line, this is genuine value against a morning-line favorite (After Taxes at 6/5) who rates a full 11+ points lower in our model.

place4Sports HeroML 8/1

Sports Hero at 8/1 is a compelling place play — a 76.62 TrackWiz rating makes him the second-best number in the race, and James Ryerson is a capable conditioner who won't waste a turf sprint spot. The 8/1 morning line signals that casual money is elsewhere, but our numbers say this horse belongs right in the thick of it for second money.

show8After TaxesML 6/5

After Taxes is the morning-line favorite at 6/5 and rates 73.23 in our model — behind Swaging and Sports Hero but ahead of the rest. Wesley Ward is elite with grass horses and the 57 average speed figure is the best raw number on the board. Even if this one underperforms as favorite, she's fast enough to fill a show spot, making her a sensible safety net in your exotics.

Race 6

7:39 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A turf route at 1 1/16 miles that looks like an upset special — the top-rated horse in our model is a double-digit morning line, while the morning-line favorite is a full 28 points below our pick in the ratings.

win3Starlight DancerML 5/2

Starlight Dancer is our top play here at 5/2 on the morning line and an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — the best in a nine-horse field. Trainer Michelle Nevin puts her runners on the turf with purpose, and Kendrick Carmouche has been sharp at the meet. An 8% career win rate is modest, but in a wide-open grass route, one strong trip can flip everything.

place8Amelia's EchoML 2/1

Amelia's Echo at 2/1 is the second-highest-rated horse in the race (66.04) and gets the services of Manuel Franco — arguably the most sought-after jockey at this meet. Trainer Kantarmaci has multiple runners in today's card and clearly knows what he has here. At 2/1, she'll be popular, but a place ticket offers solid return without overcommitting to a winner.

show9KareyML 5/2

Karey is interesting in the show role at 5/2 with a 62.83 rating, trained by Kantarmaci — same barn as Amelia's Echo. The rider is still TBA, which is worth watching at scratch time; a live jock pick-up could send this one even shorter. At 5/2 for a trainer doubling up in the same race, there's stable confidence baked in here.

Race 7

8:13 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A contentious six-furlong dirt claimer with a tightly bunched group of ratings — this is the kind of race where our model finds a live longshot sitting well above his morning line.

win5Constant ChaosML 12/1

Constant Chaos is our top pick at 12/1 on the morning line — and that's exactly where the value lives today. His 73.96 TrackWiz rating leads the field, and a 25% career win rate tells you this horse has finished first before at this level. Jose Lezcano is the jockey, a savvy veteran who can navigate a nine-horse sprint, and trainer David Duggan sends this one out with a ready horse profile. At 12/1 if the morning line holds, this is one of the best value plays on the card.

place9SullyML 3/1

Sully at 3/1 rates 73.63 in our model — essentially a coin flip with the top pick — and Manuel Franco is up for Linda Rice, a combination that hits the board at a steady clip. A 7% career win rate suggests a horse who often runs second or third without getting the big score, which makes the place ticket here a natural fit.

show2Mo SpiceML 12/1

Mo Spice at 12/1 is a second longshot worth a look in exotics — a 65.24 rating places him fourth in our model, and his 14% career win rate shows he can get the job done occasionally. Edgard Zayas gets the mount for Rudy Rodriguez, and at those odds in a packed field, Mo Spice could sneak into a trifecta at a price that blows out the payout.

Race 8

8:45 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 fur · Turf

A stakes field on the turf sprint comes with some serious talent and a tight top-three cluster in our ratings — this shapes up as a quality race where the favorite is legitimately dangerous but not without threats.

win1WaraloML 5/2

Waralo leads the field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and a remarkable 41% career win rate — that's exceptional stakes-level consistency. Jose Lezcano and Chris Englehart form a sharp team, and an average speed figure of 58 is tops in the field. At 5/2 on the morning line, you're not getting a bargain, but you're backing genuine class.

place6Bold JourneyML 7/2

Bold Journey (83.02 rating, 23% win rate) is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who rarely enters a stakes horse without a solid chance. Kendrick Carmouche is a double booking today across the card, showing confidence in this mount. At 7/2 with a 56 average speed figure and Mott's careful placement record, this is a horse who can absolutely earn second money.

show2SacrosanctML 5/1

Sacrosanct at 5/1 brings the most eye-catching career win rate in the entire race — 66% — and has Manuel Franco on board for Linda Rice. An 81.94 TrackWiz rating slots him third in our model, and while he may be short of the top two in raw speed figures (55 avg), that elite win rate says he finds a way to get the job done. A quality show ticket or place inclusion in exotics.

Race 9

9:16 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming mile on dirt with a handful of legitimate contenders and two horses our model separates from the pack — the late pick-3 anchor race deserves serious attention.

win7CoquitoML 9/2

Coquito leads the field at 84.9 TrackWiz rating and brings a 34% career win rate that screams consistent winner. Trainer Steven Schauer and jockey Jaime Rodriguez may be a quieter combo than some in this field, but the numbers back this horse up emphatically. At 9/2 on the morning line, Coquito represents genuine value in an allowance field where the top two Chad Brown/Linda Rice barn horses will soak up the public money.

place8She's GrandML 6/1

She's Grand is a force to be reckoned with — an 81.57 rating and an extraordinary 58% career win rate, the best of anyone on today's full card. Jose Lezcano rides for Linda Rice, a barn that is firing on all cylinders. At 6/1 on the morning line, the casual bettor may overlook this horse, but a mare with a 58% lifetime win rate in allowance company is not a horse to fade lightly in the place spot.

show6Romantic DancerML 6/1

Romantic Dancer at 6/1 rounds out our ticket with a 67.9 TrackWiz rating and a 21% career win rate that's solid for this company. Manuel Franco is on board for Richard Dutrow Jr., and with a 55 average speed figure this one can keep up with the pace. At 6/1, she slots in perfectly as a show bet or the bottom leg of a trifecta at a fair price.

Race 10

9:48 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

The penultimate race is a loaded allowance optional claiming mile featuring three horses our model rates very tightly at the top — this could be a genuine photo finish with serious money on the line.

win8EliminateML 3/1

Eliminate tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 and draws Kendrick Carmouche, who has been excellent at this meet. An 18% career win rate is steady, and the average speed figure of 54 ties with the best in the field. Trainer Linda Rice has two horses in here (Eliminate and Ranger Battalion) — and the fact that Carmouche is on Eliminate tells you everything about the barn's preference.

place2Playing TricksML 5/2

Playing Tricks is right on Eliminate's heels at 86.6 in our ratings — an elite 50% career win rate and Manuel Franco for Chad Brown is about as strong a combo as you'll find at this level. At 5/2 morning line she'll be well bet, but a horse who has won half of her career starts deserves to be included in your exotics construction at minimum.

show6Ranger BattalionML 4/1

Ranger Battalion (82.38 rating, 25% win rate) is the third leg of what shapes up as a very cozy trifecta at 4/1. Jose Lezcano pilots the second Linda Rice entry, and a 25% win rate shows this horse finishes first often enough to make a show ticket comfortable. With three horses so tightly packed between 82-87 in our model, Ranger Battalion is the kind of overlaid show horse that pays decently.

Race 11

10:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Turf

A wide-open maiden special weight on turf to close the card — with a field full of first-time or lightly-raced horses and missing speed figures for several, this is a race where trainer and jockey credentials do a lot of the heavy lifting.

win5Daisy DooML 5/1

Daisy Doo leads our model at 79.67 and flashes a strong 56 average speed figure — one of the better workout-backed numbers in a field where several horses have no recorded figures at all. Robert Ribaudo conditions her and Edgard Zayas gets the call — a jockey who has been busy all card today and is clearly in form. At 5/1 on the morning line, this is legitimately the best price on the best-rated horse in the race.

place4Super DaveML 8/5

Super Dave comes in as the 8/5 morning-line favorite, conditioned by Wesley Ward — the gold standard for first-time grass starters. Ward's barn hits at an elite clip with debut turf runners, and the 56 average speed figure matches Daisy Doo at the top of those with recorded figures. Our rating of 59.0 puts him second in the model despite being the public's top choice.

show7BubsterML 9/2

Bubster at 9/2 is an intriguing third option — a 54.17 rating from Bruce Levine's barn with Jose Lezcano up. Levine is a steady hand at this level and Lezcano has shown sharp form today. With multiple horses in this field having zero recorded speed figures, a horse showing even modest form can have a significant edge, and Bubster fits that description well at a fair price.

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Bottom line for today: Best Impression, Spinning Class, and Calling Card are our free best bets to get you started. For the full card — including the Race 8 Stakes breakdown, the Constant Chaos longshot angle, and exotic ticket strategies — subscribers have everything they need waiting for them. Good luck at the windows, and as always, bet smart.

← Back to all picks

Best Bets

Race 1↗

Race 2↗

Race 3↗

Full Card Analysis

Get the Full Card Analysis

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3