We’ll start things off Belmont Stakes Day is Race 7, the Grade 1 Just a Game at a mile on the turf. When I say start things off, I mean the serious wagering. I’ll likely be watching until then and all wagering is serious.

I like Sandtrap making her second start in the US. Her first start showed she had a sweet turn of foot. The race she ran at two to Gezora was excellent and on paper there looks to be enough pace to set her up to finish. She will be the “other Chad” in here but that doesn’t bother me at all.

Sandtrap was good enough to comeback off a long layoff and win going away. I think some forward movement is reasonable to expect and that would put her right in the mix.

In the next race, The True North I lean to Imagination. It turns out he is a fast-finishing sprinter, and I think he was too close to the pace last out at Churchill Downs and that hurt his closing kick. I think he should fall further back in here and that should set up a big late run.

After most of the action is over, I’ll take a final shot in the last race with a horse trying grass for the first time. In the 14th race I like Elnajd. The sire gets horses who run on anything, and the mare was all turf. There should be plenty of speed out of those sprints and we’ll look to steal the nightcap on the lead. You can find all our Belmont Stakes Seminar info here. Hopefully opening days column motivated you!