NICK’S PICKS – SATURDAY, JUNE 5 – CLN DAY 6

By Nick Hahn
WITH AN EYE ON BELMONT PARK - Live racing at Colonial Downs features the $50,000 Oakley Starts among its eleven turf races, but somewhere late in the afternoon, eyes will drift to Belmont Park 's signal. The Oakley is named after the farm of Mrs. A.C. Randolph, a leading Virginia breeder that produced Black Gang and Kentucky Derby starter Sky Wonder.

At Belmont Park, the Grade I Manhattan on the turf is a Virginia Derby reunion of Gio Ponti ('08), Strike A Deal ('07), Take the Points ('09), Court Vision ('08) and Interpation ('05).

Virginia-bred Winchester is also in the field. I like Gio Ponti (pictured below).

Nick's Picks for the Belmont Stakes? #6 Ice Box, #4 Make Music for Me and #5 Fly Down.

RACE 1
3 SNUBBED – Today’s card opens with an Amateur Riders Club of America Race. 4 DANCING BILLY, 2 RAGS OLD IRON

RACE 2
1A FORBIDDEN DANCER – Two solid outings by OC's Dancer in routes who has been credible this spring. 7 BRADY HILL, 2 RUN TO THE SUN

RACE 3
3 GUILLAUME TELL – Guillaume who once missed the Transylvania by a nose is back after 3 years. 2 YOUNGBLOOD, 6 QUARRY LAKE

RACE 4
3 BAVARIAN – "Bry" won his 1st two starts at CNL including the Chenery. Bavarian a tad classier. 8 CAPTAIN BRY, 6 STEPPEDOUTOFPLACE

RACE 5
3 ZISTER – Hey Soul Zister, ain't that Jenkins mare with Camacho on Beau, you really need to go, you know. 6 BEAU'S TRIP, 2 SWEET THERESA

RACE 6
4 ROYALE – Russell gets the call on Kingsley's Kingmambo dropping in class. 8 MAGIC NORMAN, 3 DOC MAGOVERN

RACE 7
1 DEADLINE TIME – This moring's Jockey Jive guest gets the lead & Karma on a 1st time starter. 9 ICE THUMPER, 10 NOT SO HOLY

RACE 8
5 VALUEADDEDPARTNER – Trombetta gives Julien a shot at avenging his last turf perfromance after a win. 6 FUR LINED, 1 SPARKLING HALO

RACE 9
2 SUZZONA – Julien back on the Very One runner up who relishes CNL & in the money in the last 5. 5 INDYCAT, 1 TWICEASBEAUTIFUL

RACE 10 - THE $50,000 OAKLEY STAKES
1 ARGENT AFFAIR – Pino's Pony hasn't seen the turf yet but wins often. CNL legend Bop sires 3 here. 9 SALAAM ALAYKUM, 8 HUGE

RACE 11
7 VALIANT STAR – Optimism is a 2-year old in the starting gate. Let's go shopping with Allen's Slam. 6 LILY OF JOHAR, 2B PINK PALLET