Published Jun 3, 4:58am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 3, 4:58am ET
Credit: AI Generated
Updated Jun 3, 4:58am ET
A stacked afternoon of horse racing action is set for Saratoga on June 6, with the card headlined by the 2026 Belmont Stakes. A key race on the undercard will see horses aged three compete over seven furlongs. You can find the odds and our picks for the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes here.
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Crude Velocity | +100 |
| Englishman | +400 |
| Solitude Dude | +800 |
| Glided Bandit | +1000 |
| Obliteration | +1400 |
| Civil Liberty | +1600 |
| Stradale | +1600 |
| Taj Mahal | +1600 |
| Six Speed | +2000 |
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Recent Winners
A high-quality Belmont Stakes undercard is set for Saturday, featuring a fascinating renewal of the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes. Horses aged three will be involved in the Grade One, which covers a distance of seven furlongs.
Crude Velocity will be a solid favorite for the Bob Baffert yard this weekend. The three-year-old by Beau Liam is unbeaten under rules, and has won impressively on back-to-back starts this year. The key form line could have come in the G2 Pat Day Mile, as the pre-race favorite beat Englishman by over three lengths.
I’m a big fan of Cherie DeVaux-trained Englishman, but he didn’t have many excuses for the defeat at Churchill Downs. However, this drop back to seven furlongs could play to his strengths, with Jose Ortiz keeping the faith aboard. Had previously won impressively on back-to-back starts at Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds at the start of the year.
Obliteration and Civil Liberty bring progressive profiles into the Woody Stephens Stakes. The former for Steven Asmussen was eye-catching when winning by three lengths in the Chick Lang Stakes on his U.S. return after finishing second in Saudi Arabia.
Six Speed is a very quick horse, and this weekend’s test will suit him better than when last seen finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby. Has previously won at Meydan over seven furlongs. He will likely battle Taj Mahal for the lead, with the three-year-old last seen finishing tenth in the G1 Preakness.
Prior to that effort, the Brittany Russell-trained runner has won impressively at Laurel Park on three straight starts. Manuel Franco takes over in the saddle, and he is a fascinating prospect on his first start outside of Maryland.
Six Speed and Taj Mahal will ensure that there is a red-hot pace in the Woody Stephens Stakes this weekend. Therefore, it could be worth chancing a runner that is bred to get slightly further than seven furlongs.
Solitude Dude ticks this trend, having run impressively earlier in the season when a close third behind Commandment in the G2 Fountain of Youth. Has since bounced back to winning ways over seven furlongs after landing the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct. Race tactics could play to his strengths this Saturday.
|
Pick
Solitude Dude (+800)
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