Belmont Park Weekend Stakes Picks and Odds

Man O' War Stakes

Coming off a second-place run in the (G2) Dixiana Elkhorn at Keeneland in late April, Ontario-bred Kaigun (5-2) is just one of several with international connections entered in the Man O' War. Prior to that he won the (G2) Pan American at Gulfstream. The second place finisher in that one, Wake Forest (2-1), will be making just his second start stateside after racking up a pair of Group 3 wins in his native Germany. Up With The Birds (6-1) was fifth in the Dixiana, but has been a solid Grade 1 contender in the recent past, including a second-place showing the 2015 Canadian International.

Four-years-old and upward, 1 3/8 miles on turf.

Picks: 1) Kaigun 2) Wake Forest 3) Up With The Birds

Peter Pan Stakes and Ruffian Handicap

Wild About Deb (8-1) ships in for the Peter Pan from Santa Anita, where he broke his maiden second out by six lengths. Two-for-two lifetime sprinting, Unified led every step of the way last time out at Aqueduct to win the (G3) Bayshore and now stretches out for the first time. Likely to get a piece is Adventist (4-1) who was third in three consecutive at the graded-stakes level, including the (G1) Wood Memorial.

Three-year olds, 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

Picks: 1) Wild About Deb 2) Unified 3) Adventist

Expected starters in the Ruffian include Cavorting (8-5), a former Grade 1 winner who was the beaten favorite in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and has been in the money in her two starts since. Include Betty (5-1) was on the trail for the Triple Tiara last year, and won the (G1) Mother Goose over this same Belmont dirt track. Calamity Kate (8-1) has had good results at the graded-stakes level in the past, and will be making her 2016 debut.

Four-year-olds and upward, fillies and mares, 1 mile on dirt.

Picks: 1) Cavorting 2) Include Betty 3) Calamity Kate