Belmont Stakes Odds and Betting Preview
by Patricia Woo | May 17 2010
Even without a horse vying for the
Triple Crown going into the
2010 Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5, the Triple Crown's final leg always manages to generate its share of drama. Ice Box, who nearly stole the Kentucky Derby from Super Saver with a monstrous late rally, is among the frontrunners for this year's race, as are Fly Down and Game On Dude. Read more about these Belmont Stakes top contenders here.
Trainer Nick Zito has the luxury of having two top contenders for the Belmont Stakes. First is Ice Box, a son of Pulpit, whose heroics in the late going of the
Kentucky Derby nearly won him the Run for the Roses. He was caught behind traffic early on and forced to weave in and out – and still had enough in reserve to respond when asked down the stretch. In similar nail-biting fashion, he captured the $750,000 Gr. 1 Florida Derby on March 20, redeeming a fifth-place loss in the $250,000 Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 20. With a cleaner trip and the advantage of a longer track, Ice Box should be among the top three in the Belmont Stakes. Regular rider Jose Lezcano will get the mount on race day.
Zito's Fly Down is a lightly raced son of Mineshaft who impressed many with his recent win at Belmont Park. Earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, he captured the $200,000 Gr. 2 Dwyer Stakes on May 8 off a disappointing ninth-place finish in the $750,000 Gr. 2 Louisiana Derby on March 27, a race in which he was never a factor. The Richard Pell-owned Fly Down will have a new jockey for the Belmont Stakes – his regular rider is Lezcano, who will be aboard stablemate and top contender Ice Box. Also in question is Fly Down's ability to get 1 1/2 miles; most of his success has come at 1 1/8 miles. Fly Down has a 2010 record of 3-2-0-0.
Bob Baffert's Game On Dude is another rapidly improving horse worth keeping an eye on as the Belmont Stakes gets closer. Baffert won this year's Preakness Stakes with Lookin at Lucky – who will have some time off after a busy Triple Crown campaign – and is looking to add the final jewel of the Triple Crown to his resume. Game On Dude, a son of Awesome Again, had a slow start to his 3-year-old season: he came in seventh, well back of Ice Box, in the Florida Derby, in his first graded stakes try. Then he finished fifth in the $200,000 Gr. 3 Derby Trial Stakes on April 24. He finally found the winner's circle on May 8 in the $200,000 Gr. 3 Lone Star Derby with a breakthrough performance.
Held at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY., the Belmont Stakes is the final leg of the Triple Crown. Boasting a purse of $1M, it is also known as the “Test of the Champion” for its demanding 1 ½-mile course.
Who will win this year's Belmont Stakes?
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