Belmont Stakes Still Worth Watching and Betting On
by Patricia Woo | May 24 2010
The 142nd
Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday, June 5 at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY. Not only is it the third and final leg of the
Triple Crown series, but the one referred to as the “Test of the Champion” for its gruelling 1 ½ mile length.
In 2008, the horse racing world was buzzing with Big Brown's real chance of winning all three races to become the first Triple Crown winner in over 30 years. In 2009, Kentucky Derby-winning Mine That Bird thrilled fans with his gutsy top-3 finish in each Triple Crown race. But this year, there is no chance of a Triple Crown winner. And no horse will have run in all three races. That means there is excellent value in this year's Belmont Stakes, making it a race you will not want to miss.
Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver is skipping the Belmont Stakes. So is
Preakness Stakes winner Lookin at Lucky. Out of the 11 or 12 potential starters currently slated to take on the Belmont Stakes, Ice Box's name is probably the most recognizable. Nick Zito's trainee impressed in the Kentucky Derby, overcoming myriad traffic troubles and launching a powerful late bid that saw him fall just short of victory. He has been waiting in the wings for his shot at the final Triple Crown race and most likely will be sent off as the favorite. But other than Ice Box, few others stand out. And savvy horse bettors will seize this chance to bet on a relative unknown at a great price.
Take Nick Zito's other trainee, Fly Down. This son of Mineshaft has only been in three races this year – and did not come remotely close to making the top 20 graded stakes earners list going into the Kentucky Derby. He finished a dismal 9th in the Gr. 2 Louisiana Derby on March 27 at Fair Grounds after beginning his year with an allowance race victory at Gulfstream Park in February. Since then, however, Fly Down has caused a stir with his win in the $200,000 Gr. 3 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park on May 8. His powerful victory over potential Belmont Stakes rival Drosselmeyer signaled a leap in improvement and maturity, making Fly Down one of the horses to watch as the Belmont Stakes approaches.
And then there is Uptowncharlybrown, a horse with a career that, so far, matches his hard-luck name. He began his 2010 campaign with a win in the $75,000 Pasco Stakes but could not duplicate his success in either of his subsequent outings, the Gr. 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes or the Gr. 3 Tampa Bay Derby. Then, prior to the Gr. 2 Lexington Stakes on April 17, his trainer, Alan Seewald, passed away unexpectedly; Uptowncharlybrown finished third. Since then, he has been moved from the barn of trainer Tim Ice to that of Kiaran McLaughlin where he has shown signs of blossoming – he turned in a recent 4-furlong breeze in 47.82 and has been looking comfortable at Belmont Park.
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