BELMONT STAKES 2011: Race Schedule and Post Times

Below is a summary of race conditions and post times for Saturday's card at Belmont Park (all times Eastern).  The Belmont Stakes is the 11th race on the card and will go to post at 6:35pm Eastern time (TV: NBC).

Versus will have coverage at Belmont Park from 3:00 to 5:00 Eastern, which will include the G2-True North, G2-Woody Stephens, and G1-Just A Game.  NBC's coverage will begin at 5:00 Eastern.

The rest of the undercard can be seen on either HRTV or TVG, as both have the rights to NYRA races.

Races 10, 12 and 13 will run over the inner turf.  Races 1, 5 and 9 will be on the Widener turf.

• $0.50 Pick 4s start with races 2, 8 and 10.  The Pick Six starts with race 6.
• Anybody want to take bets on whether or not we get to see the Manhattan tomorrow?  The odds have got to be something like 1/5 that NBC won't show the race.
  
  4-Gio Ponti (6/5) is the favorite for the Manhattan, but the U.K. shipper, 6-Viscount Nelson (4/1), should provide a stern test.
• 3-Trappe Shot (5/2) continues his return to sprint distances in the G2-True North Handicap after to failing to do much when stretched out last year in the Haskell and the Travers.  He began the year with a win in the listed Waldoboro Stakes at Belmont on May 11th and finds himself in a decent spot for a graded stakes win.
  
  I don't care much for 1-D'Funnybone (2/1) in this spot; his previous races where he's drawn the rail haven't exactly been the highlights of his career (G3-Withers and Sunshine Millions Sprint). He also just lost to Trappe Shot in the Waldoboro last time out (as did 4-Rule By Night)
  
• 2-Turbulent Descent (3/5) is the heavy morning line favorite for the G1-Acorn but will she be as effective in a one-turn mile as she is routing?
  
  The WinStar owned and Todd Pletcher trained 3-Savvy Supreme (5/1) should be the clear lone speed in this spot.  Two for three in her career after a wins at Gulfstream and Belmont, Savvy Supreme will stretch out to a mile for the first time.  She is by Distorted Humor out of a Storm Bird mare (Outsource).
  
  Savvy Supreme is a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Commentator.
• 3-Amen Hallelujah (6/1) will try the grass for the first time in her career in the G1-Just A Game in an attempt to snap an eight-race losing streak.  She finished 3rd in the G1-Humana Distaff on Derby day and 2nd, beaten a head, in the G1-Madison at Keeneland in mid-April.  If she were to win the Just A Game, she would become a graded stakes winner on dirt, turf and synthetic (she won the G2-Davona Dale on dirt and the G2-Satan Ynez on Santa Anita's former synthetic surface.
  
  2-Aviate (GB) (5/2) looks to be tough to beat in the Just A Game, just as she was in the G2-Distaff Turf Mile on Derby day.  She's been nothing but solid since shipping over from Europe this winter.