The Belmont Stakes- Preview & Predictions
The 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes will take place this Saturday, June 5th at Belmont Park in Elmont New York. Post time is scheduled for 6:32 P.M (ET) and is race number 11 of a 13 race card. The final and longest of the three Triple Crown races, The Belmont is a grade I stakes race for three year old Thoroughbreds with a total prize purse of $1,000,000. It is contested on a dirt track over a distance of 1 ½ mile.
With a field of 12 entries, here is a brief preview along with the current odds for a few of the horses to watch in Saturday’s race.
The Favorites
Ice Box 3-1
Trained by Nick Zito and ridden by Jose Lezcano. This horse may have had a chance to win the Kentucky Derby if it was as long as this race as he closed strong to take second, 2 ½ lengths behind the winner; Super Saver. Prior to that race he won the grade II Florida Derby back in March. His finishing speed will once again be a major asset in this race.
First Dude 7-2
Trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Ramon Dominguez. This horse was not in the Derby field but set the pace for the Preakness leading all the way to the finish before giving up ground to Lookin at Lucky to finish second by just ¾’s of a length. This horse does very well over long distances and is perfectly suited for a race like this.
The Contenders
Uptowncharlybrown 10-1
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Rajiv Maragh. While this horse did not run in either of the first two Triple Crown races he has had a couple of strong outings in some other big races including third place finishes in the Sam F. Austin and Lexington Stakes.
Game On Dude 10-1
Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia. While he did not have enough graded stakes earnings to make it into the field at the Derby, he went on to win the grade III Lone Star Derby on May 8th to qualify for this one. Earlier this year he finished seventh in the grade I Florida Derby and fifth in the grade III Derby Trial.
The Longshots
Interactif 12-1
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Javier Castellano. This horse has been groomed for this race as he has spent the last four weeks training at Belmont Park. While he qualified for the Kentucky Derby, Pletcher felt he was better suited for the 1 ½ mile distance of this race. Earlier this year he finished second in the San Felipe Stakes and was fourth in the grade I Blue Grass Stakes.
Stately Victor 15-1
Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Alan Garcia. Earlier this season this horse was an afterthought for the Triple Crown races after finishing off the board in four straight races. With Garcia as his new jockey he went off as a 40-1 longshot to win the Blue Grass Stakes, earning a spot in the Kentucky Derby. He finshed eighth in that race but should do much better in a smaller field.
This one should come down to a battle between Ice Box and First Dude as these are the two strongest horses in the field. I like Interactif to figure in the mix somehow, but he will not have the stamina to win. Look for Ice Box to WIN, Interactif to PLACE, and First Dude to SHOW.
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