2004 Belmont Stakes will be biggest in it's History.

wilheim · May 16, 2004

The largest crowd for a Belmont was 103,222 in 2002, when Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem stumbled at the start and finished eighth. NYRA officials expect this year's Belmont Stakes to easily surpass the 2002 record crowd because of the Smarty Jones histeria. Among the challengers Smarty could face are Derby starters Birdstone, Friends Lake, Master David, Read the Footnotes and Tapit. Other possible starters include Mustanfar, Relaxed Gesture, Sinister G and Royal Assault, who won the Sir Barton on the Preakness undercard.

wil.

Chris@OlympicSports · May 16, 2004

All reseved seats were sold out before the Preakness was run, huge crowd from Philly will be invading Elmont NY

TheGeneral+ · May 16, 2004

Good for the sport. I hope Smarty wins the race.

VaultedTreehouse · May 16, 2004

I'll be there is my customary spot on the rail at 9 AM. I was there when the 100,000 were there and you couldn't move. This will be worse, but I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday in June than to see a Triple Crown winner.

NickyDeuces · May 16, 2004

Last crown winner was Affirmed in the late seventies. Since then 9 horses have won the first two legs only to be shot down in the mile and a half Belmont. Notable failures include Spectacular Bid, Pleasant Colony, Alysheba, and Sunday Silence. Real Quiet came real close only to get nailed on the wire by Victory Gallop a few years back.

OMNIVOROUS FROG · May 16, 2004

Real Quiet had the race won and Kent eased him early. He ran Pimlico at Belmont. Victory Gallop developed skin disease between races and still won. Probably Baffert's worse loss ever, as Quiet was holding comfortable lead. To Kent's credit, he shouldered the blame. Admitted he eased up early. Still deciding whether Smarty super horse, or horrible field of 3 year olds. The way newcomers were 2nd and 3rd yesterday, green and no purse money, leaning towards awful competition. But then again, Real Quiet had even less. The ugly fish almost did it, Smarty should pull away here. Unbettable...OF

I underestimated him, and betting him to win TC at 5-1 would be a hedger's dream now.

NickyDeuces · May 16, 2004

Hey OF, I remember the cameras on Baffert, "Did we win it?" One head up, one head down.

OMNIVOROUS FROG · May 16, 2004

Talk about a peak or pinnacle. He was the super trainer up until then. What did he do after that? Remember who his best horse was that year? Real Quiet was his second best 3 year old...OF

NickyDeuces · May 16, 2004

Indian Charlie, won the Santa Anita Derby right?

OMNIVOROUS FROG · May 16, 2004

Your good. But Real Quiet actually closed better. I had a personalized plate made RL QUIET after derby. Indian Charlie was the bigger better bred horse. Real Quiet was poorly bred, bad dosage, skinny and weird looking, getting nicknamed the Fish. Still, what a heart. Good job, vsp. You know your horses...OF

dimeplayersonly · May 16, 2004

as far as triple crown races go........dont forget about Lukas...for about a 5 year stretch it was either a baffert or lukas entry(s)

lukas had his fair share of stablemates contending for the triple crown.....thunder gulch, grindstone......cat thief was suppossed to be the better horse in the kentucky derby...everyone forgot about charismatic.....

OMNIVOROUS FROG · May 16, 2004

You are absolutely right. Was going off on the Real Quiet tangent. Lukas was just before Baffert, the previous genius. But did his well go dry or what. I think it goes in runs. You win a big one, then get a lot better prospects, and they win big ones. Then you hit a bad run and you are a bum again. Very fleeting profession. Everyone may disagree with this statement, I believe the horse makes the trainer. ...OF

NickyDeuces · May 16, 2004

Baffert recalling his short career as a QH jockey, "If the horse was 30-1, about 25-1 of it was because of me."

If I recall correctly, it was Cat Thief who ran over Lucas's son.

wilheim · May 16, 2004

A little Triple Crown trivia:

Which trainer holds the record for most consecutive wins in the Belmont?

Which jockey has won the Preakness the most times?

wil.

NickyDeuces · May 16, 2004

Woody Stevens?

Pat Day?

wilheim · May 16, 2004

Woody Stevens

Pat Day

Stevens won an incredible 5 straight Belmonts from 1982 thru 1986.

wil.

dimeplayersonly · May 16, 2004

imo....the size of the field will be an important factor on whether or not Smarty wins.......

the last 3 triple crown winners faced small fields (6 or less)

the last 6 horses that won the first two legs......and failed in the belmont faced a field of 6 or more.......

could be as many as 12 for this years belmont......

wilheim · May 16, 2004

Belmont candidates will be announced tommorow. A field of 12 sounds a little high to me, but time will tell.

wil.

dimeplayersonly · May 16, 2004

possible entries, with past performances already up Wil...DRF

tagged Smarty Jones with a 118 beyer......

wilheim · May 16, 2004

Dime - Thanks pal.

wil.

2004 Belmont Stakes will be biggest in it's History.

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