<TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%"><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=5>$1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I, Belmont Park, June 5), 3YO 1 ½ Miles (Dirt)</TD></TR><TR><TD>Post</TD><TD>Horse</TD><TD>Jockey</TD><TD>Trainer</TD><TD>Odds</TD></TR><TR><TD>1.</TD><TD>Dave In Dixie</TD><TD>Calvin Borel</TD><TD>John Sadler</TD><TD>20-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>2.</TD><TD>Spangled Star</TD><TD>Garrett Gomez</TD><TD>Richard Dutrow, Jr.</TD><TD>30-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>3.</TD><TD>Uptowncharlybrown</TD><TD>Rajiv Maragh</TD><TD>Kiaran McLaughlin</TD><TD>10-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>4.</TD><TD>Make Music for Me</TD><TD>Joel Rosario</TD><TD>Alexis Barba</TD><TD>10-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>5.</TD><TD>Fly Down</TD><TD>John Velazquez</TD><TD>Nick Zito</TD><TD>9-2</TD></TR><TR><TD>6.</TD><TD>Ice Box</TD><TD>Jose Lezcano</TD><TD>Nick Zito</TD><TD>3-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>7.</TD><TD>Drosselmeyer</TD><TD>Mike Smith</TD><TD>Bill Mott</TD><TD>12-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>8.</TD><TD>Game On Dude</TD><TD>Martin Garcia</TD><TD>Bob Baffert</TD><TD>10-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>9.</TD><TD>Stately Victor</TD><TD>Alan Garcia</TD><TD>Mike Maker</TD><TD>15-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>10.</TD><TD>Stay Put</TD><TD>Jamie Theriot</TD><TD>Steve Margolis</TD><TD>20-1</TD></TR><TR><TD>11.</TD><TD>First Dude</TD><TD>Ramon Dominguez</TD><TD>Dale Romans</TD><TD>7-2</TD></TR><TR><TD>12.</TD><TD>Interactif</TD><TD>Javier Castellano</TD><TD>Todd Pletcher</TD><TD>12-1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Which horse is best suited to run a mile and a half?
That's the most important question confronting the 12 3-year-olds running in tomorrow's 142nd Belmont Stakes. It's a distance they have never run -- and most of them will never run again.
The Belmont has been won by horses going gate-to-wire, stalking from mid-pack or rallying from far back, so running style does not provide the answer.
Previous distance experience can be a clue, but most of the runners in this year's "Test of the Champion" have handled at least a mile-and-an-eighth in a fashion that suggests more ground is not a problem.
One tried-and-true barometer is their bloodlines. Pedigree analysis is not an exact science, of course, but here are five Belmont runners that figure to go the distance:
DROSSELMEYER: His sire, Distorted Humor, is by Forty Niner, who sired Belmont winner Editor's Note and is closely related through his dam to Belmont winner Swale. Distorted Humor's dam is by Danzig, sire of Belmont winner Danzig Connection.
DROSSELMEYER: His sire, Distorted Humor, is by Forty Niner, who sired Belmont winner Editor's Note and is closely related through his dam to Belmont winner Swale. Distorted Humor's dam is by Danzig, sire of Belmont winner Danzig Connection.
Drosselmeyer's broodmare sire, Moscow Ballet, is a son of English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky out of a dam that's a half-sister to the great European champion Mill Reef. Drosselmeyer's second dam, by Slew o'Gold, is a granddaughter of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
FIRST DUDE: His sire, Stephen Got Even, was sired by Belmont winner A.P Indy, who sired Belmont winner Rags to Riches. A.P. Indy was sired by Seattle Slew out of a mare by Triple Crown winner Secretariat.
First Dude's broodmare sire, Smart Strike, is a half-brother to champion filly Dance Smartly, winner of the Canadian triple crown. Smart Strike sired two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, who lost the Belmont by a head. First Dude's female family, tracing back to the foundation mare Uvira, produced A.P. Indy and another Belmont winner, Lemon Drop Kid, among many other high-class runners.
ICE BOX: His sire, Pulpit, from the female family of the stamina-rich Round Table, is another son of A.P. Indy. Ice Box' broodmare sire, Tabasco Cat, won the Belmont. His second dam, a half-sister to Derby winner Spend a Buck, was sired by Alysheba, who also sired the second dam of last year's Belmont winner, Summer Bird.
MAKE MUSIC FOR ME: From the potent Northern Dancer sire line, he has three Triple Crown winners -- Affirmed, Secretariat and Seattle Slew -- in his first four generations.
His classy female family, which produced champion filly Heavenly Cause, Breeders' Cup Mile winner Opening Verse and Wood Memorial winner Bounding Basque, features such stamina influences as The Minstrel, Nijinsky, Blushing Groom and Herbager.
SPANGLED STAR: He's another son of Distorted Humor. His broodmare sire, Kris S. -- sire of Belmont runner-up Kissin Kris -- is a son of English Derby winner Roberto, who was sired by Hail to Reason, a strong stamina influence. Hail to Reason is by Turn-to, who appears frequently down through the years in the female families of Belmont winners.
Among the others, honorable mention goes to Interactif, Stately Wager and Game on Dude
His classy female family, which produced champion filly Heavenly Cause, Breeders' Cup Mile winner Opening Verse and Wood Memorial winner Bounding Basque, features such stamina influences as The Minstrel, Nijinsky, Blushing Groom and Herbager.
SPANGLED STAR: He's another son of Distorted Humor. His broodmare sire, Kris S. -- sire of Belmont runner-up Kissin Kris -- is a son of English Derby winner Roberto, who was sired by Hail to Reason, a strong stamina influence. Hail to Reason is by Turn-to, who appears frequently down through the years in the female families of Belmont winners.
Among the others, honorable mention goes to Interactif, Stately Wager and Game on Dude
Going into this Race before the Horses were Entered. I was Leaning BIG TIME on horse Ice Box.
Ice Box was My pick in the Derby, he finished a Good 2nd after being Boxed in.
In the Preakness, I had the winner....Lookin at Lucky...but he is out of the Belmont.
Now I find myself Thinking......I Don't like to Think too much when it comes to Horse Racing.....
I'm thinking, because Top Trainer Todd Pletcher has Entered at the Last minute....Horse, Interactif.
Pletcher is By Far a Stupid Trainer.....One of the Best in the business !
This Horse is more of a Turf or Synthetic Type of horse.
So that's what got me Thinking.. :think2:
Remember a few Years ago....He Entered the Filly Rags to Riches at the Last minute in the Belmont.
So I will be Forced to use this horse......and Might even be Forced to Bet him to Win.
Ice Box was My pick in the Derby, he finished a Good 2nd after being Boxed in.
In the Preakness, I had the winner....Lookin at Lucky...but he is out of the Belmont.
Now I find myself Thinking......I Don't like to Think too much when it comes to Horse Racing.....
I'm thinking, because Top Trainer Todd Pletcher has Entered at the Last minute....Horse, Interactif.
Pletcher is By Far a Stupid Trainer.....One of the Best in the business !
This Horse is more of a Turf or Synthetic Type of horse.
So that's what got me Thinking.. :think2:
Remember a few Years ago....He Entered the Filly Rags to Riches at the Last minute in the Belmont.
So I will be Forced to use this horse......and Might even be Forced to Bet him to Win.
Here's some excellent analysis of today's race: http://www.predictem.com/horse/belmont-stakes.php
G. Money & billhill999 Both Had The Winner
http://www.therxforum.com/showthread.php?p=7924400#post7924400
http://www.therxforum.com/showthread.php?p=7924400#post7924400
