Belmont Stakes

[HowboutthemCowboys]

Great Hunter is in, Nobiz Like Shobiz is out, and Hard Spun is likely to run in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 9.

 

Meanwhile, Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense returned to the track Thursday for the first time since getting beat by a head in the Preakness. He galloped an easy mile at Churchill Downs under exercise rider Mark Cutler. His connections said they want to evaluate the colt for a few more days before making a final decision on whether to run in the Belmont.

 

drf.com

 

 

It's only 15 days away.....

[gilthorp]

Still waiting to see if Tiago is running or not.

[HowboutthemCowboys]

Still waiting to see if Tiago is running or not.

 

Shirreffs said Tiago is scheduled to leave for New York on Tuesday, May 29. He said Tiago would have his final work for the Belmont at Belmont Park six days before the race. Mike Smith, who has ridden Tiago in his last two starts, has the mount.

 

drf

[spain]

Still waiting to see if Tiago is running or not.

 

Why? Do you like Tiago's chances in the Belmont? I remember several folks liked him at Derby but he had a bad trip. I dont recall where he finished but it wasnt impressive i dont think. Tiago skipped the Preakness so he will be rested. But I dont know how he stacks up against the big 3.

[gilthorp]

Why? Do you like Tiago's chances in the Belmont? I remember several folks liked him at Derby but he had a bad trip. I dont recall where he finished but it wasnt impressive i dont think. Tiago skipped the Preakness so he will be rested. But I dont know how he stacks up against the big 3.

 

 

At this point, I don't think we're going to see any of the big 3. Reports are that Curlin was really tired after the Preakness, and with good reason. I don't see Nafzger sending Street Sense, and I personally don't see Hard Spun being able to carry the 1 1/2 distance.

 

Remember, the Belmont is a full 1/4 mile longer than the Kentucky Derby.

 

To answer your question, yes, I do like Tiago's chances in the Belmont, but I have to see how the race shapes up...if there is no speed to create an honest pace, we might see someone be able to win it while loafing on soft fractions, like Commendable did.

[HowboutthemCowboys]

At this point, I don't think we're going to see any of the big 3.

 

He's going to go back to the track to train on Wednesday, and I'd be very surprised if he wasn't the same Curlin he's always been. He's spoiled us."

 

The Belmont is definitely next, Asmussen said.

 

"This is the kind of horse who is meant for that caliber of race," Asmussen said. "We're not going to just stand around and admire him. We're going to race him."

 

 

drf.com

[spain]

I was out drinking at the pool here in Vegas today and some dude from Saratoga, New York and I get into a dicussion of horse racing. He claims to be a big railbird up there in NY. We talked about the Derby and Preakness alot, as well as other races coming up. Anyway, guess who his pick for the Belmont is? Yep, that wonderful piece of horse flesh made famous by many here at the Huddle named....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular Quay

[HowboutthemCowboys]

Jockey Andrew Lakeman was listed in critical condition at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., on Friday after sustaining head trauma in a spill at Belmont Park.

 

"He's pretty bad," said trainer Allen Jerkens, for whom Lakeman has worked as an exercise rider the last few years.

 

Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr., who was also involved in the spill, broke his left collarbone and was kept at North Shore overnight.

 

Lakeman was hurled to the Belmont turf hard after his mount, Our Montana Dream, clipped heels with Irish Senorita around the far turn of Belmont's fourth race, a maiden turf event. Lakeman lay motionless while being attended to by paramedics. He was taken off the turf on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to North Shore.

 

Lakeman is a 32-year-old native of England, who according to Daily Racing Form statistics rode 7 winners from 181 mounts after beginning his North American career in 2000. Lakeman had some success for Jerkens in 2005 riding subsequent stakes winners Swap Fliparoo and Miss Shop to their maiden victories. Lakeman won the 2005 Huntington Stakes on Saint Daimon for Jerkens.

 

Meanwhile, Arroyo, 30, was injured when his mount, Lady Alice, fell over Our Montana Dream. Arroyo also hit the ground hard. He attempted to get up, and eventually was taken off the turf on a stretch, in a sitting up position.

 

[spain]

I am hanging around the sports book today. Anybody got any winners for me to bet on today?

[HowboutthemCowboys]

It was becoming increasingly clear that jockey Mario Pino was going to be replaced for the Belmont Stakes following his questionable ride in the Preakness Stakes. On Saturday, Garrett Gomez was confirmed as Pino's replacement by Larry Jones, who trains Hard Spun.

With Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Preakness winner Curlin, and Hard Spun all currently pointing for the $1 million Belmont on June 9, the field is shaping up as a small one. And it was reduced further Saturday when trainer Doug O'Neill said Great Hunter, who finished 13th in the Derby, was out of the Belmont because of a bone chip in his right front ankle.

[HowboutthemCowboys]

Jockey Andrew Lakeman was listed in critical condition at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., on Friday after sustaining head trauma in a spill at Belmont Park.

 

"He's pretty bad," said trainer Allen Jerkens, for whom Lakeman has worked as an exercise rider the last few years.

 

Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr., who was also involved in the spill, broke his left collarbone and was kept at North Shore overnight.

 

Lakeman was hurled to the Belmont turf hard after his mount, Our Montana Dream, clipped heels with Irish Senorita around the far turn of Belmont's fourth race, a maiden turf event. Lakeman lay motionless while being attended to by paramedics. He was taken off the turf on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to North Shore.

 

Lakeman is a 32-year-old native of England, who according to Daily Racing Form statistics rode 7 winners from 181 mounts after beginning his North American career in 2000. Lakeman had some success for Jerkens in 2005 riding subsequent stakes winners Swap Fliparoo and Miss Shop to their maiden victories. Lakeman won the 2005 Huntington Stakes on Saint Daimon for Jerkens.

 

Meanwhile, Arroyo, 30, was injured when his mount, Lady Alice, fell over Our Montana Dream. Arroyo also hit the ground hard. He attempted to get up, and eventually was taken off the turf on a stretch, in a sitting up position.

 

 

Jockey Andrew Lakeman, involved in a spill at Belmont Park on Friday, remained in critical condition at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island Saturday with severe spinal cord damage and a fractured chest, according to New York Racing Association officials.

 

Lakeman, 32, was placed on a respirator Saturday morning. Lakeman did not have any head trauma, as originally feared.

 

"He is on a respirator," said Charles Hayward, NYRA's president and chief executive officer, who went to the hospital on Saturday along with NYRA's director of communications John Lee. "He's pretty heavily sedated, he's still critical, but he is stable and certainly much improved from his situation when he was admitted."

[spain]

So, do we know which horses are definitely running in the Belmont yet?

 

Anybody like Rags to Riches?

Edited May 29, 2007 by spain

[gilthorp]

RtR is intriguing.

[spain]

RtR is intriguing.

 

I keep hearing his name pop up. What do you guys think of him?

[HowboutthemCowboys]

I keep hearing her name pop up. What do you guys think of her?

 

fixed.

 

 

I don't think Pletcher will run her although I'd like to see what she can do against the boys. She's a freak...

[HowboutthemCowboys]

Immediately following the heartbreaking loss by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in the Preakness Stakes, trainer Carl Nafzger said he would not run in the Belmont Stakes on June 9. For the next week and a half, though, he wavered. But on Thursday, Nafzger fell back on his first thought. He announced, after consulting Wednesday night with owner Jim Tafel, that Street Sense would bypass the final and longest leg of the Triple Crown.

 

drf

[gilthorp]

5, 6 horse field at most. I doubt I'll watch it.

[spain]

I think SS may just be too tired. Remember his phenomenal workouts prior to Derby? Now he doesnt even want to get out of the dam barn. curlin is looking good according to this report that is a couple days old now:

 

BELMONT STAKES WORKS!

 

Morning, gang. I got a call yesterday from Scott Blasi asking if I could help-out this morning. With Steve A. out of town (he arrived late Sunday, and apparently was on-track for the work, although I was unaware), and with 12 to work, including the BIG HORSE, I was more than happy. Following was my impression:

 

Curlin (4.5 Stars) - 5F ... breezing ... alone ... 1:03.20 [:14.0; :13.0; :12.0; :12.0; :12.1 - Galloped-out 3/4 in 1:16.0]

 

Loved the gallop-out. In the past on a short gallop-out, Carlos always had to restrain Curlin after the work in order to throttle him down. This morning, he barely moved his hands, and Curlin understood to shut it down. As much as he got out of his Derby experience, I believe his Preakness experience with the stumble, early hustle, and hard ride the whole way may turn-out to be even more significant in his development.

 

Coincidentally, STREET SENSE also was on track this morning to gallop at almost the same time as Curlin, and he DID NOT make a favorable impression. He appeared a bit washy again, and was reluctant to get going. In fact, he actually had to have the lead pony engage him in order to begin galloping! Not good news for those of us hoping to see the "BIG 3" in the Belmont.

 

http://horseplayerdaily.21publish.com/CLOC...takes-works.htm

[spain]

The breeding rights to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense have been sold to the Darley Stud of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, trainer Carl Nafzger and owner Jim Tafel both confirmed on Saturday.

 

Nafzger said the sale was "a done deal" but that he did not know all the details of the transaction, including the sale price. Nafzger said the colt will continue to run in Tafel's name through the Oct. 27 Breeders' Cup Classic and that Nafzger will continue to train him.

 

"There are a lot of stipulations and clauses, as there always is with a major deal like this," said Nafzger from Churchill Downs.

 

He said an official announcement on the sale was to come Sunday.

 

Jim Bell, the president of Darley USA, would not comment on the sale.

 

Sheikh Mohammed already owns the sire of Street Sense, Street Cry, and his dam, Bedazzle.

 

Nafzger said he did not know whether the pending sale played a role in Tafel's decision not to run Street Sense in the Belmont Stakes next Saturday.

 

"To my knowledge it was not a factor, but I can't say that for sure," he said.

 

Tafel, speaking from his Boynton Beach, Fla., home, would not offer any details of the sale and wouldn't say if he would retain any breeding rights to the horse after his retirement.

 

"I'll have an interest in that horse as long as he's alive - as long as I'm alive," Tafel said, referring to an emotional attachment. "When you have an outstanding horse like this you get mixed emotions."

 

Tafel did say that he is still flying high from Street Sense's 2 1/4-length victory in last month's Kentucky Derby.

 

"You know it seems like yesterday," he said. "The thrill is still there, it's almost life-changing, it really is. It's such a tremendous experience. As John Oxley and Debby Oxley" - owners of 2001 Derby winner Monarchos - "said to me, it's beyond description, unless you live it."

 

Nafzger said Street Sense would continue to be pointed for the Haskell or the Jim Dandy, then the Travers and the Breeders' Cup.

 

Street Sense last raced in the Preakness Stakes on May 19, losing by a head to Curlin. Last year, Street Sense won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was voted champion 2-year-old male. He has a record of 4 wins from 9 starts and earnings of $3.1 million.

 

- additional reporting by Jay Privman

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/tri...tory?id=2891477

[spain]

MONDAY, June 4, 2007

 

BELMONT STAKES Week has arrived. Latest weather forecast for Elmont, NY.30 %

 

Don't Forget the Sunblock

Sat

Jun 9 Partly Cloudy

83°/64° 10%

 

 

 

 

 

FIRM FIELD FOR BELMONT STAKES

(Entries close Wednesday)

 

 

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Notes

HorsePlayer

Early Odds

 

Curlin

Albarado

Asmussen

1st - Preakness

3-5

 

Hard Spun

Gomez

Jones

2nd - Kentucky Derby

3-1

 

Tiago

Smith

Shirreffs

1st - Santa Anita Derby

7-1

 

I'mawildandcrazyguy

Guidry

Kaplan

4th - Kentucky Derby

12-1

 

Slew's Tizzy

Velazquez

Fox

1st - Lone Star Derby

15-1

 

Time Squared

Leparaoux

Biancone

6th - Blue Grass

30-1

 

Digger

Prado (poss.)

R. Dutrow

2nd - allowance at CT

75-1

 

 

 

* Circular Quay and Rags to Riches remain possible.

 

BELMONT STAKES DAY Wagering Notes: $1 million guaranteed pick 6 (Races 6-11); $1 million guaranteed pick 4 (Races 8-11).

[HowboutthemCowboys]

 

* Circular Quay and Rags to Riches remain possible.

 

 

 

Todd Pletcher said he would not decide until Tuesday on whether to run the filly Rags to Riches or Circular Quay, but said Rags to Riches is the most likely of the two to run.

 

drf

[gilthorp]

Here are the PP's.

 

http://www.drf.com/tc/belmont/2007/pps/bel..._contenders.pdf

[HowboutthemCowboys]

Todd Pletcher said he would not decide until Tuesday on whether to run the filly Rags to Riches or Circular Quay, but said Rags to Riches is the most likely of the two to run.

 

drf

ELMONT, N.Y. - The Belmont Stakes has gone from rags to riches.

 

That might be just a wee bit of hyperbole, being as Preakness Stakes winner Curlin and Triple Crown stalwart Hard Spun were already in the field. But the decision on Tuesday by trainer Todd Pletcher to race the nation's unquestioned leading 3-year-old filly, Rags to Riches, against the boys in the 139th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park made the final leg of the Triple Crown far more interesting than one known in large part for missing Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.

Her inclusion also set off a chain reaction of events regarding horses and, in particular, jockeys. John Velazquez wound up on Rags to Riches by jettisoning Slew's Tizzy, but not before a late-hour bid by Ron Anderson, the jockey agent for Garrett Gomez, to get off of Hard Spun and back on Rags to Riches, whom Gomez rode to victory in the Kentucky Oaks.

 

One potential fringe players in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, Time Squared, was pulled from the race when trainer Patrick Biancone learned another top horse had been added to the field.

[gilthorp]

Waiting for Spain to give us the winner here...

[HowboutthemCowboys]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Einstein, the highly accomplished turf specialist who gained some notoriety when he dumped jockey Robby Albarado on Preakness Day at Pimlico, might make a surface switch for his next race.

 

Trainer Helen Pitts said Einstein could make his next start in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap, a 1o1/8-mile dirt race that anchors a six-stakes program June 16 at Churchill Downs.

 

With Albarado aboard, Einstein breezed five furlongs in 59.40 seconds on Sunday.

 

"Robby came back and said, 'Why don't we run this guy on the dirt?' " said Pitts. "And I said, 'Funny, but we just might.' I would like to try him on the dirt because he goes so good over it."

 

drf.com

 

 

Did'nt know if you saw this Gil...