Coglianese /NYRA Photo

NYRA offering more than $3.5 million in guaranteed wagers, special post times during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival June 8-10

by NYRA Press Office

The New York Racing Association will offer more than $3.5 million in guaranteed wagers during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival presented by NYRA Bets on June 8-10 at Belmont Park, capped by a $1.5 million Guaranteed Pick 4 on Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 10.

Day 1 of the festival, Thursday, June 8, opens with a first race post time of 2 p.m. and features a $75,000 Guaranteed Pick 6 beginning in Race 4 (post time 3:35 p.m.) that includes the $150,000 Astoria (Race 5) and the Grade 3, $250,000 Intercontinental (Race 8). The $250,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 begins in Race 6 (post time 4:40 p.m.). and includes the Intercontinental. Also on the card is the Grade 3, $200,000 Wonder Again for 3-year-old fillies (Race 3).

Friday's 11-race card commences at 12:50 p.m. A $500,000 Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Late Pick 4 begins with Race 8 (4:42 p.m.), the Grade 2, $250,000 True North, and continues with the Grade 2, $500,000 New York and the Grade 3, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational and before concluding with the Grade 3, $250,000 Bed o'Roses Invitational.

Friday also offers a $100,000 Guaranteed Pick 6 beginning in Race 6 (post time 3:36 p.m.) 

Also on Friday are a pair of two-day guaranteed Daily Double wagers: a $100,000 guaranteed New York-Metropolitan Handicap double and a $300,000 guaranteed Belmont Gold Cup-Belmont Stakes double.

Belmont Stakes Day kicks off with a first-race post time of 11:35 a.m. and a $500,000 Guaranteed Pick 5. A $250,000 Guaranteed Pick 3 begins on Race 3 (12:39 p.m.) and a $500,000 Guaranteed Pick 6 begins on Race 6 (2:34 p.m.).

The $1.5 million Guaranteed Pick 4 begins on Race 8 (3:58 p.m.) and concludes with Race 11, the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. The 1 ½-Belmont is scheduled to go off at 6:37 p.m. and will be broadcast live by NBC from 5-7 p.m. 

Likely to head the deep and contentious field is Classic Empire, along with Epicharis, J Boys Echo, Lookin At Lee, Meantime, Multiplier, Patch, Senior Investment, Tapwrit, Irish War Cry, Hollywood Handsome and possibly Gormley.

Coverage of the day's nine graded stakes begins at 3 p.m. on the NBCSN. All times are Eastern.