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This Month's Coverage:

Panthers Take Game Five, 5-2, One Win Away from Second Straight Stanley Cup

Brad Marchand scored a pair of goals as the Florida Panthers took a crucial game five in Edmonton for a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Final Saturday night. The result leaves the Panthers just one win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup for a second straight season.

Marchand scored his ninth playoff goal at 9:12 of the first period and tallied again at 5:12 in the third, putting the Panthers up 3-0. Edmonton countered with a Connor McDavid goal at 7:24 - his seventh of the playoffs but first of the Final - but Sam Reinhart came back with a goal just 46 seconds later to make it 4-1. Cory Perry scored for Edmonton as time ran down, and Eetu Luostarinen put the puck into an empty net with 1:19 left in the game, sealing the deal for Florida.

With the Cup in the house when the teams return to Sunrise, Florida, for game six Tuesday, the Panthers will be seeking to close out the Oilers for a second straight year. Last year's Final went seven games and was won on Florida's home ice, but the Panthers hopes to end this season's Final in six. The Oilers aren't done just yet, but both of their wins have come in overtime, while two of Florida's wins were in regulation and by sizable margins. The Panthers took game 3, 6-1, and Saturday's 5-2 score has them up 23-16 in total goals over Edmonton.

The Panthers shelled Edmonton goalkeeper, Calvin Pickard, scoring four goals on just 18 shots. It has not been determined whether he or Stuart Skinner will be in net on Tuesday.

If there is a game seven, it will be in Edmonton, on Friday, June 20.

Edmonton Evens Final at 2-2 with 5-4 OT Win
Series returns to Edmonton Saturday | Update by Fearless Rick, June 13, 2025

Leon Draisaitl stuffed the puck past Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky at 11:18 in overtime, securing a comeback victory for the Oilers, tying the series at two games apiece. Sending the Stanley Cup best-of-seven final back to Edmonton for game five Saturday, the Oilers rallied from a 3-0 deficit after the first period.

Calvin Pickard replaced Stuart Skinner in goal after the near-disastrous first. The backup played the rest of the game and overtime, logging 51:18 in the net, stopping 22 of 23 Florida shots. Pickard's solid net play allowed the Oilers to tie the game, rallying for three goals in the second period.

In the third, Edmonton took a 4-3 edge on Jake Walman's goal at 13:36, but Florida evened it back up by finally getting one past Pickard. Sam Reinhart scored his sixth playoff goal with just 20 ticks left on the clock.

The two teams traded close calls in the overtime, leading to Draisaitl's heroic push past Bobrovsky.

The series returns to Edmonton on Saturday, the puck to drop shortly after 8:00 pm ET.

Panthers Take 2-1 Lead in Stanley Cup Final with 6-1 Win on Home Ice

As the Stanley Cup Final shifted to Florida for game 3, the Panthers took full advantage of home ice, scoring early and late to down the Edmonton Oilers, 6-1, grabbing the advantage after splitting a pair of games in Canada. Florida won game two, 5-4, in double overtime.

Brad Marchand hit the back of the net early on, scoring just 56 seconds into the contest. Carter Verhaeghe made it 2-0 at 17:45 of the first period with a power play goal. Corey Perry got the Oilers back to within a goal with a score at 1:40 of the second, by just a minute and twenty seconds later, Sam Reinhart made it 3-1.

When Sam Bennett scored his 14th goal of the playoffs at 7:26 of the second period, the rout was on, as the Panthers added two more power play goals in the third. Six different skaters scored goals for Florida.

The scoring punch of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was neutralized throughout the game by goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 32 saves, and the Florida defensive units.

Having already won a game on the opponents' ice, Florida now commands a solid advantage as they seek a second straight Stanley Cup. A victory in game four Thursday, also in Miami, would put the Panthers on the brink of hoisting the Cup yet again and deny the Oilers for a second straight season.

Game five is in Edmonton, and, if there is a game six, it would be back in Miami with a game seven possibility at Edmonton.

Panthers Win Game Two in Double Overtime, 5-4; Tie Series with Oilers
UPDATE: Saturday, June 7

Brad Marchand scored 8:05 into the second overtime, lifting the Florida Panthers to a game two win over Edmonton, tying the Stanley Cup Final at a game apiece.

The winning goal was the second of the game by Marchand, the first a short-handed goal at 12:09 in the second period. Corey Perry scored with 18 seconds left in the third to tie the game for Edmonton, the latest game-tying goal in Cup Final history.

Florida's Sam Bennett set an NHL postseason record with his 12th road goal. For Edmonton, Connor McDavid had three assists, Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist, and goaltender Stuart Skinner made 37 saves.

Sergei Bobrovsky had 42 saves for Florida.

Billed as an even match-up, the Cup Final - contested by the same two teams from last season - has so far produced two games that could not be decided in regulation. Game one was won by Edmonton, 4-3, in overtime.

Game three of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final is Monday, 8:00 pm ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

More from NHL.com

Box Score Game Two
Box Score Game One

Game One Goes to Oilers, 4-3, In Overtime

The opening game of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final delivered on the promise that these two teams are virtually inseparable.

Leon Draisaitl scored the first goal of the game just 1:06 into the initial period. Florida responded with goals by Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand to take a 2-1 lead after one, and another Bennett goal made it 3-1, two minutes into the second period.

Viktor Arvidsson scored a minute and 17 seconds later and Mattias Ekholm scored early in the third period off an assist by Conner McDavid.

As predicted, the two teams are so evenly matched it took overtime to get the end result as Leon Draisaitl scored with just 31 seconds in the extra period off another assist from McDavid.

Game two is set for Friday night at 8:00 pm ET in Edmonton.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Players to Watch in Rematch from Last Season
UPDATE: 12:10 pm, June 4, 2025

A return of the two teams from last season's Stanley Cup Final - won in seven games by the Panthers - virtually guarantees an intriguing set of games, high emotions, and star players that will most likely impact the outcomes.

Leading scorers during the previous rounds of the playoffs are dominated by the Edmonton Oilers, as team captain, Connor McDavid, leads all players with 26 total points, followed closely by Leon Draisaitl with 25, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with 18.

For Florida, Aleksander Barkov looms a constant threat. Leading up to the Final, he's accumulated 17 points, on six goals and 11 assists. Naturally, with leading goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky (12 wins, 5 losses), the Panthers don't need to generate as much firepower as do the Oilers. Bobrovsky has allowed an average of 2.11 goals per game, more than adequate for a competitive Final.

On Edmonton's side, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have shared net-minding duties, with Pickard leading, posting six wins and no losses in seven games. Skinner, who has a better goals-against average than his teammate (2.53-2.84) saw more playoff action, going 6-4 over 10 games.

Skinner is likely to see the bulk - if not all - of the action in the Final, his experience from last season giving him added incentive against Florida. Over his last eight starts, he's 6-2 with a .931 save percentage and three shutouts. Pickard was injured in the second round of the playoffs and has not played since May 8.

Florida will go with Bobrovsky and his .912 save percentage during the Panthers' playoff run thus far. Not quite at elite status, Bobrovsky was fourth league-wide with 33 wins during the regular season. His experience - this is his third straight Final appearance - and familiarity with the Oilers have put him on a pedestal according to some hockey experts.

Both goaltenders have exuded confidence through the playoffs. While Skinner has the obvious task of avenging last season's loss, Bobrovsky will be defending Florida's win from last season and looking to horse the Stanley Cup a second straight year.

The obvious threat comes from the Edmonton offense, with McDavid and Draisaitl the main concern. Keeping them contained will be the task of Florida defenders, but they will get their chances and Bobrovsky is determined to stop all shots and manage his end of the ice. Draisaitl led the league in goals during the regular season with 52 and was tied for third in points (106) with Boston's David Pastrnak. McDavid was more the set-up man, scoring 26 goals, and fourth overall regular season, with 74 assists, totaling 100 points, one of just six players to reach the century mark.

Florida's Barko (20, 51, 71) and Sam Reinhart (39, 42, 81) will carry most of the load for Florida. It's important for the Panthers to keep the Oilers in check. More of a defensive team, they could suffer if Edmonton scores early goals. Likewise, it's important that the Oilers don't get bogged down into a checking contest. Their free skaters rely on having room to operate.

The series begins tonight in Edmonton with the puck set to drop just after 8:00 pm Eastern time. The Stanley Cup Final is rated a toss-up, with both teams -110. Edmonton is -120 for the opener.

This year's Stanley Cup Final will be a rematch from last season, with the Edmonton Oilers facing off versus the Florida Panthers, with one subtle but very important difference - this season, Edmonton has secured the home ice advantage, meaning games one and two will be at Rogers Place in Alberta, three and four in Florida, and then alternate sites for games five, six, and seven, if necessary.

Should the series go seven games, as it did last season, the Oilers will be at home, as opposed to last year, when they rallied from an 0-3 deficit to force a game seven on Florida's home ice, but eventually fell to the Panthers, 2-1 .

The Stanley Cup Final opens Wednesday, June 4 in Edmonton. Full schedule: Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers

• Game 1: Panthers at Oilers, Wednesday, June 4, 8 pm
• Game 2: Panthers at Oilers, Friday, June 6, 8 pm
• Game 3: Oilers at Panthers, Monday, June 9, 8 pm
• Game 4: Oilers at Panthers, Thursday, June 12, 8 pm
• Game 5: Panthers at Oilers, Saturday, June 14, 8 pm
• Game 6: Oilers at Panthers, Tuesday, June 17, 8 pm
• Game 7: Panthers at Oilers, Friday, June 20, 8 pm

* = If necessary

NBA FINALS

Jalen Williams Scores 40, Leads Thunder to Game Five Victory, Up 3-2 in Finals

Oklahoma City grabbed a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals with a 120-109 win Monday night at home. Jalen Williams had probably the greatest game of his career, scoring 40 points for the Thunder on 14-for 25 shooting, with six rebounds and four assists. Teammate and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned in his usual solid performance with 31 points and 10 assists.

The Thunder led most of the game, including a bulge of 18 points early in the second half. Indiana battled back from a 59-45 halftime deficit and cut the Thunder lead down to two early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Pascal Siakem. However, unlike in game one, which the Pacers won on a buzzer-beating 20-footer by Tyrese Haliburton, Oklahoma City responded with a 18-4 run which put them ahead, 113-97, with just under five minutes to play.

After that, it was mostly academic, with the Thunder using some clock on each possession as time wound down. The victory sets the Thunder up to clinch the NBA title Thursday night at Indianapolis. The Pacers, who have now lost two straight to the Thunder, are up against it, especially with their star point guard, Haliburton, suffering an injury to his right leg early in the game. He was largely ineffective, going 0-for-6 from the field, scoring just four points, all on free throws. He had six assists and seven rebounds, but those numbers are far from what's needed from the Pacers' star in order to compete with the talented Thunder.

Game six is set for Thursday night in Indianapolis, with the opening tip shortly after 8:30 pm ET.

Thunder Come Back to Even Series with 111-104 Win

Game for of the NBA Finals had a uniquely different flavor. With the Pacers looking to take a decisive 3-1 lead, instead of the Thunder racing out to a big lead - as has been the pattern the first three games - both teams heated it up in the first quarter, with the Pacers leading at the end of one for the first time in the series, 35-34.

Also unusual was the Pacers being in control after three quarters and looking to put away the Thunder. Indiana was up 60-57 at the break and 87-80 at the end of three. This time, however, it was the Thunder coming from behind, outscoring the Pacers 31-17, in the final quarter, as league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the final 4:38, scoring all but one of the points for the Thunder as they closed out the contest with a 16-7 spurt.

The Finals are now tied at two games apiece, each team winning one in enemy territory - the pacers taking game one in OKC, and now the Thunder striking in game four. Game five is back at Oklahoma City, Monday night at 8:30 pm ET.

Pacers Take the Initiative with Game 3 Win over Thunder, 116-107

Playing at home in an NBA Fnals for the first time in 25 years, the Indiana Pacers put all the pressure on the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder with a convincing victory, outscoring them in the fourth quarter, 32-18, to lead the Finals, two games to one.

What was different about this game - besides it being played before a partisan crowd in Indianapolis - was that the Pacers didn't fall far behind early in the game. Though they were down by eight points after the first, bench players, particularly Bennedict Mathurin - who led all scorers with 27 points - and TJ McConnell, who sparked a 15-4 run to start the second quarter and a 9-5 edge to finish the half with a four-point lead.

McConnell pestered Thunder guards into turnovers and mental mistakes. He finished with 10 points, five assists and five steals in just 15 minutes of floor time. Tyrese Haliburton scored 22 points with 11 assists and 9 rebounds, his best all-around game of the series. Pascal Siakam had 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, but the biggest contribution by far came from Mathurin, who scored his 27 points in 22 minutes, going 9-for-12 from the field including 2 of 3 from beyond the arc and 7-for-8 from the foul line.

Oklahoma City didn't go down easily, however, holding the Pacers to 20 points in the third quarter for a five point lead to enter the fourth. The Pacers played brilliant defense down the stretch, holding the Thunder to just 18 points in the final quarter.

After McConnell's layup tied the score at 95 at 8:33 of the fourth, it was all Indiana, outscoring the Thunder 21-12 the rest of the way.

Heavily-favored Oklahoma City now faces an uphill climb in their quest for the title. With Game 4 in Indianapolis Friday night, they are in a "must win" situation against a team that has shown determination and grit throughout the playoffs. While both teams had their moments - there were 15 ties in Game 3 - Indiana had more of them when they counted. The Pacers were more effiicient at the foul line, canning 19 of 22 to the Thunder's 23 of 30, and they led Oklahoma City in assists, 24-16, steals, 13-6, and blocked shots, 11-4. They also had 17 fast break points to Oklahoma City's 10.

It was the first time in the Finals that league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't lead in scoring. He was 9-for-20 from the field and just 1-for-3 from 3-point range for 24 points. His four assists were overshadowed by six turnovers. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 26 points.

Thunder Evens Series with Pacers in 123-107 Game Two Blowout
by Fearless Rick, June 9, 2025

After being stunned by the Pacers in game one, 111-110, the Oklahoma City Thunder wasn't about to let Indiana rally back in the fourth quarter in game two. The Thunder took a 59-41 lead into halftime and led by 19 going into the fourth quarter, led again by league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with 34 points.

The game was not close after the first quarter, the Thunder, already up six, outscored Indiana, 33-21 in the second quarter and took complete control of the game. Jalen Williams scored 19 and Chet Holmgren bounced back from a poor showing in game one with 15 points, most of them in the early stages of the game. Oklahoma City made 29 of 33 free throws, winning at the charity stripe by 10 points.

Despite every Pacers' starter finishing in double figures, and shooting 45% for the game, their 14-40 showing on 3-pointers and a 43-35 rebounding edge by OKC contributed to their undoing.

In the fourth quarter, OKC repelled any attempt at a comeback. The final result never in doubt, it was the only quarter in which Indiana had an edge, outscoring OKC, 33-30, but it was far from enough to even close the already-wide gap.

The series shifts to Indiana for games three and four, with the guarantee of a game five in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have momentum, even though they'll be on the road for the next two games. Indiana has fallen far behind in both of the first two contests and they'll have to compete better in the first halves of the next two games to avoid being overwhelmed by the Thunder, which now appears to be the dominant team.

Game three is Wednesday, June 11, with game four slated for Friday. Both games tip at 8:30 pm ET and will be televised nationally by ABC network.

Pacers Stun Thunder in Game One Shocker
by Fearless Rick, June 6, 2025

The Oklahoma City Thunder led the entire game... until the last 3/10ths of a second.

Up by more than 15 points at some junctures, the Thunder, playing at home in the first game of the best-of-seven NBA Finals, could not restrain the fourth quarter surge by Indiana, culminating in Tyrese Haliburton's heroic 20-foot jumper that gave the Pacers their first, and only, lead of the evening.

Hitting the crucial basket with 0:00.3 left on the clock, Haliburton silenced the sold-out Oklahoma City crowd. The Thunder could not score on a final attempt at a tip-in as time expired as Indiana prevailed, 111-110.

Haliburton, the star for the Pacers in wins over the Cavaliers and Knicks leading their run to the finals, finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Pascal Siakam lead the Pacers in scoring with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Obi Toppin finished with 17 points, with a 5-for-8 effort from beyond the arc, three in the final quarter.

The Thunder led by nine going into the final quarter, but the Pacers continued to grind away, playing their customary tight defense and hitting key shots down the stretch as the Thunder struggled to find baskets. Indiana outscored the Thunder 35-25 in the final quarter.

Oklahoma City was led by NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who dazzled with 38 points, going 14-for-30 from the field.

Oklahoma City will have plenty of time to consider ways to stop the Pacers' late-game surges, which have become a trademark for the Eastern Conference champs. Game two of the series isn't until Sunday, June 8. Once again, the Thunder will be at home before the series switches to Indiana for games three and four. All games are being televised nationally by ABC. Game time Sunday is 8:00 pm ET.

Champions of the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have home court advantage over the Eastern Conference's Indiana Pacers when the NBA Finals get underway Thursday, June 5. The Thunder swept the Grizzlies in the opening round, took out Denver in a seven-game thriller, and dominated Minnesota in five to advance, while the Pacers eliminated the Bucks in five, surprisingly defeated Cleveland in five games and then proceeded to dispatch the New York Knicks in six.

Here's the schedule for the Finals:

All times Eastern

• Game 1: Pacers at Thunder (Thu. June 5, 8:30, ABC)
• Game 2: Pacers at Thunder (Sun. June 8, 8, ABC)
• Game 3: Thunder at Pacers (Wed. June 11, 8:30, ABC)
• Game 4: Thunder at Pacers (Fri. June 13, 8:30, ABC)
• Game 5: Pacers at Thunder (Mon. June 16, 8:30, ABC) *
• Game 6: Thunder at Pacers (Thu. June 19, 8:30, ABC) *
• Game 7: Pacers at Thunder (Sun, June 22, 8 on ABC) *

* = if necessary

Belmont Stakes at Saratoga

Sovereignty Defeats Jouralism in Belmont, Baeza Runs Third
Belmont update, Monday, June 9, 2025 by Fearless Rick

As he did in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty ran down Journalism in the stretch late Saturday afternoon at Saratoga, winning the Belmont stakes by two lengths, similar to his winning margin in the Derby.

The race being run at the same distance as the Derby, 1 1/4 miles, the horses that ran 1-2-3 in Kentucky, finished in the exact same order at Saratoga. Sovereignty, with the extra time off by skipping the Preakness (won by Journalism), proved to be the best 3-year-old presently in training. Journalism was a clear second, with Baeza passing by a tiring Rodriguez in the stretch to run third.

The trifecta, which apparently everybody in the known universe had, paid a paltry $6.90.

My picks were somewhat limited, as there were only three entrants in Race 6, so I didn't bet it, though my choice, Nitrogen won handily. My pick for race 7, Full Moon Madness, was scratched, so I skipped that race as well. With races 9 and 12 cancelled (more on that later), I had Just a Touch across the board and he finished third, so I lost $4.50, but bounced back with A.P. Kid in the 10th (winner) and had the exacta with #7 Mi Bago. Chancer McPatrick ran out in the 11th, costing me $12.

I had the trifecta in the Belmont, though I had it as a four-horse box, which cost $12. I also dropped $12 on the Superfecta, which wasn't a good bet at all, my longshot #8 running completely out of it.

Races 9 and 12, cancelled Saturday, were run as races 12 and 13 on Sunday, both on the turf, so I played my choices and scored with Ag Bullet across the board, though I just missed the exacta, my horses running first, third and fourth. In the 13th (Satruday's race 12), Spirit of St. Louis flopped, finishing off the board, but I scored a $26.50 exacta, replacing #3, who was scratched, with #2, who ran second. Just lucky, I guess. All told, I made a whopping 70 cents overall, which, considering that I wagered $114 total, wasn't so bad. It would have been nice to have cashed a few more tickets at higher prices, but sometimes, simply not losing has to suffice.

I'll be back in August with some choice picks for the Travers, which very well might be the third go 'round for Sovereignty and Journalism. Hope everybody had some fun and made some money. As usual, I had plenty of fun and made very little money. Back to work for yours truly.

Picks for Graded Stakes Races 6-12 at Saratoga, Saturday, June 7

Belmont Stakes analysis, see below.

Notes:
UPDATE 11:50 am ET: EVEN MORE IMPORTANT: RACES, 9 AND 12 HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. The rain has not stopped. All turf races are either off the turf or cancelled. Expect a SLOPPY MAIN TRACK ALL DAY. It's a shame. There were some very bettable races on the Saratoga card.

Important: Saratoga saw heavy rain overnight and into the morning. The rain has stopped, but the track @ 10:00 am ET is labeled SLOPPY (sealed) and races 3, 6, and 10 are OFF THE TURF (for now, may change). Races 9 and 12 are on the YIELDING turf.

The track is likely to dry out considerably by the time the stakes racing begins at 2:00 pm with race 6 and might very well be FAST by the time the Belmont is run. Keep an eye on track conditions and scratches.

As usual, I'll be putting down $2 Win, $4 Place, $6 Show on my selections, plus some exacta boxes, outlined below.

9th: Box (9) Ag Bullet with (2) Think Big, (5) Arzak, and (8)Alogon
10th: Box (2) A.P. Kid with (1) Zulu Kingdom, (7) Mi Bago
12th: Box (6) Spirit of St. Louis with (3) Highway Robber, (4) Carson's Run, (5) Deterministic

Belmont Looks Like Sovereignty vs. Journalism
...but looks can be deceiving

Analysis by Fearless Rick, Friday, June 6 for Belmont race card, Saturday, June 7

With no horse eligible to capture the Triple Crown, what's better than having the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Square off in the Belmont Stakes?

That about sums up this year's 1 1/4 mile event at Saratoga, which is shorter than the usual 1 1/2 mile race due to the configuration of the Saratoga track, being used while Belmont Park undergoes a complete rehab.

Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby, skipped the Preakness, which was won by Journalism in a thrilling stretch run to catch long-shot Gosger in the shadow of the wire. Of course, Journalism ran second to Sovereignty in the Derby, which might have compromised some of the entrants, though, judging by how many of them return for this event - just three - the top two and Baeza, third in the Derby - the race was fairly run, the best horses performing well.

To think that Sovereignty and Journalism won't be in the money - and probably run 1, 2, is the ultimate folly. They're clearly the best of the bunch, and Baeza would complete a very short trifecta if he runs well, which he should, a wager hardly worth making.

Because the race seems to fall to the top three runners from the Kentucky Derby, there's probably not many good reasons to spread wildly, looking for long shots or value. There simply may not be much.

Fees for the winner of the Wood Memorial - Rodriguez - and the top three finishers from the Peter Pan have had their entry fees waived by NYRA, not a small consideration. That drew in Peter Pan winner Hill Road. Why #4 Uncaged, sixth in the Peter Pan, is entered is a mystery only trainer Todd Pletcher might be able to adequately address.

As for the other horses, a quick breakdown:

#1, Hill Road, aforementioned, will get Irad Ortiz aboard, which should pull plenty of money his way, but he appears to be a touch short.

#3 Rodriguez is the usual Bob Baffert speedball. While he beat Baeza by seven lengths in his maiden win, Journalism ripped him by 11 lengths in the San Felipe on March 1 at Santa Anita. He won't be alone on the lead. That much is assured by the entry of #5 Crudo, with John Velazquez aboard. He won the Sir Barton in wire-to-wire fashion with a 93 Beyer a day before Journalism won the Preakness - a 1/4 mile longer - with a 107.

While Crudo has improved with every start, a jump of 10 Beyer points - which is what it would likely take to win the Belmont - is a bit of a stretch. However, his works are very good and he's had some rest, though three weeks may not be quite enough. Still, he's an intriguing entry here.

Heart of Honor, #8, ran fifth in the Preakness after being fractious in the gate, off slow and wide, still managing a 97 Beyer. While no match for Journalism, he may have a shot at hitting the board.

As usual, I look to eliminate some horses. In this case, I can't see using #1 Hill Road, or #4 Uncaged at all. I can use #8 and #5 in underneath combinations with #2 Sovereignty, #7 Journalism, and #6 Baeza. The chance that Crudo and Rodriguez cook each other on the lead is a serious consideration. That leaves a four horse box for the trifecta and superfecta of 2, 6, 7, and 8. A 50-cent superfecta runs $12, the same as a four-horse trifecta box. So, OK, I'll wager $24 and hope for the best. Some people might want to play the exotics with Sovereignty and Journalism on top, though that approach risks missing a bigger payday. For the small amount being wagered, I prefer the box approach and dream of Baeza or Heart of Honor shocking the racing world.

I'll be back Saturday morning - early, probably before 9:00 am - with my picks for the other seven Graded Stakes races on the card. Check with me on X for updates or just reload this page for those picks.

The Belmont Stakes will be held this year at Saratoga race course, with Journalism, second in the Kentucky Derby and winner of the Preakness, meeting up once again with Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby, who skipped the Preakness.

The two standout three-year olds are heavy favorites over an interesting assortment of challengers in the eight-horse field. Due to the configuration of the Saratoga track, the race will be run at a mile-and-a-quarter instead of the traditional mile-and-a-half distance.

Here are the entries for the Satruday, June 7, 157th Belmont Stakes (Post Time 7:04 EDT)

The undercard may be more suitable for wagering, with seven other stakes races leading up to the Grade 1 Belmont, including the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Woody Stephens (G1). Fearless Rick will provide picks and handicapping strategies for each of the stakes races and the Belmont.

US Open at Oakmont

J.J. Spaun Rallies with Four Back Nine Birdies to win U.S. Open

J.J. Spaun, who led the field at Oakmont after shooting a first round 66, overcame wind, rain, a 90-minute delay and a nearly-disastrous front nine to capture the 125th U.S. Open with a dramatic comeback and birdies on the final two holes to win by two strokes over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre.

Spaun finished at -1, the only player in the field under par. in second, MacIntyre was one over. Norway's Viktor Hovland finished third, at +2. Cameron Young, Tyrell Hatton, and Carlos Ortiz finished tied for fourth at three over par.

Rounding out the top 10, were second and third round leader Sam Burns, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler at +4. Ben Griffin and Russell Henley tied for 10th at +5.

Spaun started out the final round at -3, one shot behind Sam Burns, in the penultimate pairing with Victor Hovland who began the day at -1. Bogeys on five of the first six holes sent Spaun careening down the leader board, nearly out of contention at +2, though most of the rest of the field was beginning to sputter along as well. Jon Rahm set an early target at +4, shooting the day's best 67, tied with Rory McIlroy, who finished well enough at +7.

After his fifth bogey of the day on the par three 6th, Spaun settled down with pars on the next five holes, then birdied 12, parred 13, birdied 14 and suddenly, he was back in the hunt, though by the time he got to even par, the leader board was a crowded place, with five golfers tied atop it. A bogey on 15 set him back, but a par 3 on 16 left him tied with McIntryre, who was already in the clubhouse at +1, while the rest of the field was struggling to get through the day.

Spaun drove the green on the reachable 314-yard, par-4 17th and two-putted for a birdie, giving him the outright lead with only the 18th to play.

On the par 4, 509-yard 18th, Spaun drove 308 yards down the middle of the fairway, setting up his second shot, which traveled 190 years and came to rest 64 feet from the cup. Needing only to two-putt, Spaun left nothing to chance, miraculously sinking the long putt for a birdie and two-stroke victory.

34-year-old J.J. Spaun made his second U.S. Open start a winning one, and his first U.S. Open start since missing the cut at Torrey Pines in 2021. Spaun qualified for the major by being among the top 60 points leaders in the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 19. The Los Angeles native owns four professional wins, including the 2022 Valero Texas Open. Spaun rose up the rankings this year after losing to Rory McIlroy in a three-hole aggregate playoff at The Players Championship, and tying for second at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.

Spaun attended San Diego State, where he was a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection, and the 2012 MWC Player of the Year. He also was a second-team All-American in 2012. He played his first three professional seasons on PGA Tour Canada and when he finished among the top 3 on the circuit's Order of Merit in 2015 that included one victory, he earned his first start on the PGA Tour (RBC Canadian Open).

Spaun's 72 in the final round wasn't the prettiest golf ever played - far from it. But, his play down the stretch, on the back nine and especially the last two holes, was certainly the stuff, the grit, the perseverance that defines champions. The golfing world salutes the newest major tournament winner.

Sam Burns Shoots 3rd Round 69 for One Stroke Lead at U.S. Open

There aren't a lot of familiar names at the top of the leader board at Oakmont Sunday morning, as Sam Burns shot a 69 in the third round of the U.S. Open for a one-sot lead over J.J. Spaun and Adam Scott. Burns is at -4 through 54 holes.

Burns carded a 65 on Friday to take the lead from Spaun, whose 66 was the best in the opening round. Adam Scott has gone 70-70-67 to grab a share of second place at -3. Scott will be paired with Burns in the final group, set to tee off at 2:15 pm ET Sunday.

Spaun will play the final round with Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who shot an even-par 70 on Saturday and is alone in fourth place at -1. Those four are the only players in the field under par. The third-to-last group of the day will include Carlos Ortiz from Spain at even par, and England's Tyrell Hatton, who is one over for the tournament.

Players' names don't really become familiar to most people until further down the leader board, where Cameron Young is tied for 9th with Robert MacIntyre at +3. A host of pursuers, including Marc Leishman and world #1, Scottie Scheffler are among 10 players tied at +4. Two-time U.S. Open champion, Brooks Koepka is at +5 along with Jason Day. Jordan Spieth checks in at +6, while Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Tom Kim are all at +7.

Master winner, Rory McIlroy started the final round 14 strokes off the pace, at +10. Of the top 10 players only Adam Scott claims a major title, having won the Masters in 2013.

Sam Burns Shoots 65 in Second Round for One-Stroke Lead at U.S. Open

Sam Burns carded a sizzling 65 in the second round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, taking the lead at -3, one stroke better than first round leader, J.J. Spaun, who shot a two-over 72 after an opening round 66.

Norway's Victor Hovland may have his best chance to win a major. He's two shots back at -1, and will be paired with Adam Scott, who is at even par, in the penultimate group. Following them are Victor Perez and Ben Griffin, both even over the first two rounds.

Other notable players in the hunt are Russell Henley and two-time Open champion Brooks Koepka, each at +2 entering the third round. Si Woo Kim of Korea and Thomas Detry from Belgium are also at +2. Top players who made Friday's cut of +7 include Jason Day (+3), Keegan Bradley (+3), former U.S. open champion John Rahm (+4), Collin Morikawa (+4) and world #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler (+4). Another former Open champ is Jordan Spieth at +5, at the same level as Sungjae Im and Matthieu Pavon.

Rory McIlroy has faint hope of winning both the Masters and Open in the same year, as he shot a 74 in the first round and followed with a 72, just above the cut line at +6.

A host of quality golfers missed the cut, among them, Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Lucas Glover, Cameron Smith (+8), Tommy Fleetwood (+9), former U.S. Open champions Dustin Johnson, Gary Woodland, and Bryson DeChambeau (+10), Justin Thomas (+12), and former champion Justin Rose (+14).

Play is underway after heavy rains Friday night. The top four pairings begin to tee off just after 3:00 pm ET, with the leaders - Burns and Spaun - set to drive off #1 at 3:35 pm.

J.J. Spaun Leads U.S. Open Field with -4 66 After First Round at Oakmont

J.J. Spaun leads the field at the 150th U.S. Open after the first round 68 for a -4 score. Spaun recorded just the eighth bogey-free round at Oakmont in U.S. Open history. His 66 matched the lowest first round in a U.S. Open at Oakmont (Andrew Landry in 2016).

He is pursued by Thriston Lawrence at -3, two-time Open champion Brooks Koepka at -2 and Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im, also at -2.

Three strokes behind the leader, at -1 are Ben Griffin, John Rahm, Thomas Detry, Bud Cauley, James Nicholas, and Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. Only 10 players out of 156 are under par, an indication of just how challenging the Oakmont course is and has always been. Nine more players finished the opening round at even par 70, among them, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young, and Adam Scott.

Further back are Victor Hovland (+1), Ludvig Aberg and Xander Schauffele (+2). Harris English, Keegan Bradley, Scottie Scheffler, and Bryson DeChambeau are all at +3. A large group at +4 and in danger of missing the cut with another over par round Friday includes Wyndam Clark, Lucas Glover, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, and Edoardo Molinari. Dustin Johnson bogeyed the last hole and is +5. Patrick Cantlay, Jason Day and Tony Finau are all at +6.

A number of players who were expected to do well didn't get off to a very good start, including Justin Rose, who shot a 7-over par 77, Sepp Straka (+8), and Shane Lowry (+9).

George Duangmanee posted the high score of the day with a 16-over par 86.

The groupings for Friday's round two remain the same as in the first round, though tee times are changed and groups who started on #10 will start on the first hole and vice versa.

The lowest 60 scores and ties after the second round make the cut for weekend play. The current projection is a combined score for the first two rounds of +6, or 146.

Oakmont Hosts 125th U.S. Open

On Thursday, the third PGA Grand Slam event of the golf season, the 125th U.S. Open, begins at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. 156 golfers will compete in the event, including this year's Masters champion, Rory McIlroy, and World #1 and winner of the PGA Championship last month, Scottie Scheffler.

Other players of note include Shane Lowrey, Ludvig Aberg, Bryson DeChambeau, Hideki Matsuama. Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Matthieu Pavon.

This is the 10th time the Open has been held at Oakmont. The last time it was held at Oakmont was 2016, won by Dustin Johnson at -4, who will be in a group with two former U.S. Open winners, Jon Rahm (2021) and Jordan Spieth (2015).

Two-time U.S. Open winners competing in the field are Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. DeChambeau tees off on #10 Thursday with Zander Schauffele and Jose Luis Ballester at 7:29 am. Min Woo Lee and Justin Thomas join Koepka on the #10 tee at 1:03 pm ET. DeChambeau won last year's Open at Pinehurst with six-under, 274, a stroke better than Rory McIlroy.

Both DeChambeau and Koepka will be seeking a third U.S. Open, which would tie with Hale Irwin (1974, 1979, 1990) and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008). Four-time U.S. Open champions are a select group consisting of Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905), Bob Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930), who won all times as an amateur, Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953), and Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980).

Koepka has the distinction of having been the most under par in winning a U.S. Open, -16, tied with Rory McIlroy, who carded a -16 268 at Congressional, a par-71 course, in 2011. Koepka's 272 came at Erin Hills in 2017, a par-72 course.

McIlroy is part of the group that includes Shane Lowry and Justin Rose. They tee off at 7:40 am, on #1. Scottie Scheffler goes off #10 at 1:25 pm with Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa.

Oakmont is a challenging 7372 yard, par-70 course. The front nine consists of six par four holes, one par 5 (4), and two par 3s (6 & 8). The back nine sets up similarly, with one par 5 (12) and two par threes (13 & 16).

The lowest score for a champion U.S. Open at Oakmont is -5, by Ben Hogan in 1953, Johnny Miller in 1973, and most recently, Ernie Els, in 1994. That is a number the best in the world will be looking at as achievable this weekend if the weather cooperates.

The Open gets underway early Thursday, June 12 and will finish around 7:00 pm ET on Sunday, June 15.

Here are some of the better groupings for the opening round: