Fans coming out to Belmont Park next Saturday June 9th will not only witness the 139th running of the Belmont Stakes – the oldest, longest and final leg of the Triple Crown – they will take in five additional stakes races worth a combined $2.4 million.

This is definitely Thoroughbred racing at its best.

As for the logistics, Belmont Park’s first race Saturday is noon. In all, there will be 13 lives races spread across some seven-plus hours. Post time for the Belmont Stakes, carded as race 11, is 6:25 p.m. For those that can’t make it to the track, note the Belmont Stakes will be televised on ABC during a 120-minute telecast that begins at 5 p.m.

The Belmont Stakes also caps a $1 million guaranteed Pick 6 that begins with the sixth race, the True North, and a $1 million Pick 4 starting with race 8, the Woody Stephens.

As of Sunday afternoon, those pointing to the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at a mile and a half were Preakness champion Curlin, Hard Spun, Tiago, Slew’s Tizzy, Imawildandcrazyguy and Digger. Champion trainer Todd Pletcher said he would decide either Monday or Tuesday as to the fate of his two potential Belmont Stakes runners, Circular Quay and the filly, Rags to Riches.

A half hour before the Belmont Stakes, some of the world’s best turf horses will battle 10 furlongs in the 106th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap. The favorite will be the Todd Pletcher-trained English Channel, who finished a narrow fourth in last year’s Manhattan. English Channel is likely to meet Better Talk Now, the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner in 2004, Cosmonaut, Grand Couturier, Interpatation, Kiss the Kid, Mustanfar and Steppenwolfer.

English Channel, who won the prestigious Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont last fall, breezed five furlongs over Belmont’s Inner Turf in 1:02.67 Sunday morning. The Manhattan will be English Channel’s first race since finishing 12th in the March 31st Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba. Overall, English Channel has won 10 of 18 starts and more than $2.7 million.

“I thought English Channel worked very well,” Pletcher said. “He acts and trains as well as he ever has.”

Pointing towards the 77th Grade 1, $250,000 Acorn for three-year-old fillies at one mile are Christmas Kid and Octave – the 1-2 finishers in Keeneland’s Ashland – Boca Grande, Cotton Blossom, Dream Rush and possibly Mistical Plan and Princess Janie.

Wait a While, three-year-old filly champion of 2006, makes her first start of the season in New York in the 14th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Just a Game Handicap at one mile on the turf. She’ll face Karen’s Caper, Mauralakana, Meribel, My Typhoon and Take the Ribbon.

Wait a While stretched her legs over Belmont’s Inner Turf Sunday morning, working a half mile in :51.10, breezing.

“I thought Wait a While worked well,” Pletcher said. “We just try to keep her happy. She appreciates a (firm) turf course, so we’re hoping it rains early in the week and dries out by Belmont Day.”

Some of the nation’s top three-year-old sprinters will meet in the 23rd running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Woody Stephens at seven furlongs. Fans will find an outstanding and contentious field featuring Bustin Stones, Deadly Dealer, Hobbitontherocks, Not for Money, Sports Town, Teuflesberg and possibly Stormello, Adore the Gold, Bill Place and Xchanger.

Those feeling the need for speed will love the 29th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 True North Handicap at six furlongs. The freakishly fast Bordonaro is expected to meet Council Member, Joey P., Sir Five Star and Will He Shine. The Pletcher-trained Keyed Entry is possible.

The $1 million all-stakes guaranteed Pick 6 pool begins on race 6, while the $1 million Pick 4 pool begins on race 8. Here is the schedule for those races:

Race 6 (3:08 p.m.): True North

Race 7 (3:46 p.m.): Just A Game

Race 8 (4:25 p.m.): Woody Stephens

Race 9 (5:04 p.m.): Acorn

Race 10 (5:44 p.m.): Manhattan

Race 11 (6:25 p.m.): Belmont Stakes

There will be two additional races on the card with the finale, race 13, going to post at 7:40 p.m.