Scott Shapiro: Ranking the Belmont Stakes Festival Special Wagers, Best to Worst

In recent years, racetracks have really opened up the horizontal options for horseplayers on big days. This is once again the case during the Belmont Stakes Festival held this year at Saratoga where NYRA has 13 “Special Wagers” available.

There will be lots of content analyzing the races within these sequences, as well as suggested tickets in the coming days, but first let’s take a look at the overall attractiveness from a gambling perspective of the many options at our disposal in Saratoga Springs this week.


1. Friday/Saturday 2-Day Pick 5 (All Turf)

What is there not to love about a 15% takeout Pick 5 over two days of high-quality racing? Very little in my opinion. Add to the mix a pair of Friday stakes that includes an outstanding edition of the New York Stakes (G1), as well as a full field for the Jaipur (G1) on Saturday, and you have the wager of the week. No doubt I will be diving in heavily at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet come Friday evening at 5:30 PM eastern.

2. Friday/Saturday 2-Day Pick 6 (All Dirt)

Much like the “2-Day Pick 5” there is little to dislike about a $1 minimum Pick 6 with a 15% takeout spread over two of the best days of racing all year. That said, depending on your opinions this could get a little chalky. If you like Thorpedo Anna in the Acorn (G1), Gun Pilot in the True North (G2), one of the morning line choices in the Met Mile (G1), and Sierra Leone in the Belmont Stakes (G1), I would avoid going too deep into your budget for this wager. If you are against a few of them, this could make your weekend.

3. New York-Belmont Stakes Double

I really like the idea of a $5 minimum first and foremost for the six “Special” Daily Doubles offered during the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, but it might be a bit of overkill having five of them close with the final leg of the Triple Crown. I will avoid a few of them, but not this one. The New York is the race of the day on Friday and of course the Belmont is the race of the month.

4. Saturday Triple Play (All Turf)

Keeneland’s Director of Wagering Development Jim Goodman is one of the game’s good guys and his invention of the All-Turf Pick 3 has been a great addition to wagering menus across the country. These “Triple Play” wagers would rank even higher for me if they offered up Keeneland’s 15% takeout, but nonetheless they are a lot of fun and can be very lucrative at times. Of the four Double options, this one stands out with the inclusion of the Jaipur.

5. Acorn-Belmont Stakes Double

NYRA’s version of the Kentucky Oaks-Kentucky Derby Double combines two of the biggest races of the weekend making it hard to knock, but it lacks a bit of attraction this year for those of us who believe Thorpedo Anna is the clear one to beat at a likely short price in this year’s Acorn.

6. Friday Triple Play (All Turf)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a three-race sequence that consists of a starter allowance and a pair of allowance optional claimers over the sod. The field sizes make it even more appealing. Dive in if you have a strong opinion. Unfortunately, I do not so I will tread lightly early on Friday.

7. Intercontinental-Belmont Stakes Double

With Roses for Debra likely to be a short price in the Intercontinental, this wager is probably best utilized if you are against her or Sierra Leone in the Belmont. If those two both cross the wire first, the payout is likely to underwhelm.

8. Just A Game-Belmont Stakes Double

This is a fine wager if you have a strong opinion in this year’s Just A Game (G1), but I struggle to want to go too deep or spend too much here with trainer Chad Brown having five of the seven entered in Friday afternoon’s one-mile event over Saratoga’s Inner Turf. I would definitely avoid spreading deep in the Just a Game with too many of the Brown gals. Take a stand.

9. Thursday Triple Play (All Turf)

No issue with the concept of these All-Turf Pick 3’s other than the 19% takeout, but with all the high-quality racing in upstate New York this week, do we really need to dive head first right off the rip into a sequence that kicks off with a maiden claimer?

10. Met Mile-Belmont Stakes Double

Most years a Daily Double with two of the ten biggest races in North America would be extremely attractive. Unfortunately, this year’s Met Mile is not a great gambling event. With National Treasure and White Abarrio likely to take most of the money, this wager is only appealing to me if you are against one of them or against Sierra Leone in the Belmont Stakes.

11. Gold Cup-New York Double

I have a lot of interest in wagering on the New York both horizontally and vertically. I have little interest though in the Belmont Gold Cup making this a pass for me on Thursday afternoon.

12. Sunday Triple Play (All Turf)

Same thoughts as Thursday with a maiden claimer included plus who is saving part of their weekly budget for this? Feels like this a wager for those who have a big few days or those chasing (not recommended).

13. Thursday/Friday 2-Day Pick 4

A fun idea as often is the case in North American racing is ruined by the 24% takeout. Combine that with a two-mile turf race to get the sequence started and you have an easy pass for yours truly despite some fun races included within the four-race slate.