The Belmont Oaks 2025

On Saturday they’ll run The Belmont Oaks at Saratoga at a mile and an eighth over the turf weather permitting. Nitrogen will be odds on to win the race and one glance at her past performances will tell you why. They still must run the race. I always say they aren’t machines and for that reason along with the very short, expected price I’ll try and beat her. Saratoga isn’t the graveyard of favorites for nothing.

 
I thought Opulent Restraint, Totally Justified, and May Day Ready all had upset chances. Ultimately, I landed on Totally Justified who coincidentally I made a bet on last time she ran. She ran a big second that day and I think she can and will go forward here and run better. She does have a win over the course, and she should be sitting in a good spot throughout.

May Day Ready was sharp last year until the Japan trip. Throw out the sloppy off the turf race last out and she looks good also. Like Totally Justified she will have to run faster than she has but both these fillies look to me to be heading in the right direction.

Opulent Restraint has improved with every start. She will have to continue that trend to win this, but she is trained by one of the best and she shows no signs of being anywhere near her best yet.

 
With three fillies I think are dangerous and moving forward I can’t take the 3-5 or so I’d get on Nitrogen. Yes she has been faster than these consistently at least so far but again they still have to run the race.