JC / Railbird

Triple Crown Archive

Belmont Day

It looks like a beautiful afternoon in New York, but 300 miles to the north, heavy rain is falling for the fourth day in a row and Suffolk Downs is closed due to a power outage, so I’m watching the races at home and playing along on TVG. So far, the racing on the Belmont undercard hasn’t disappointed. (The Just a Game was especially exciting, the way Gorella pounced on pacesetter Pommes Frites in the final yards to win by a neck.) I’m playing a Pick 4 today — a rare wager for me — and won the first leg with Songster in the Woody Stephens. In the Acorn, I’m playing Bushfire, Teammate, and Ermine; in the Manhattan, Relaxed Gesture, Grey Swallow, and English Channel; and in the Belmont, just Bob and John. That’s right — I’m leaving out both of trainer Todd Pletcher’s starters, passing on Steppenwolfer, and singling Bob and John. I’m willing to forgive him for finishing 17th in the Kentucky Derby …

Posted in Triple Crown on June 10, 2006

Belmont Field Grows to 10

– Without the Derby or the Preakness winner in the field, the Belmont looks wide open. Ten horses are considered definite for the race and at least three others are under consideration. Among the definites are Bluegrass Cat, second in the Kentucky Derby, and Steppenwolfer, who finished third.
– It’s almost certain that Bluegrass Cat will have a familiar rider aboard in the Belmont. Jockey John Velazquez, out since April with an injury, is working horses for trainer Todd Pletcher in the morning and plans to return to racing early in June. “It’s looking pretty good that Johnny will be able to ride [Bluegrass Cat],” said Pletcher. “He’s been working the horse the last few days and hopefully he’s going to start riding next week.”
– Honey Ryder finally figured out the Belmont turf, winning the Sheepshead Bay Handicap by one length over Noble Stella. She finished fifth in the same race last year and was 0-for-5 over the Belmont grass until Saturday. “The difference between this year and last year and that she was covered up and inside this time,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “Last year, she was never able to relax.”

Posted in Triple Crown on May 28, 2006

Bernardini Will Skip Belmont

– Preakness winner Bernardini will skip the Belmont, said Darley USA president Jimmy Bell. “Bernardini has had three races in quick succession, and Sheikh Mohammed feels that the colt deserves a break before his next target, which will be determined in due course.” Races being considered for the colt include the Haskell and Travers. Without the Derby or the Preakness winners in the Belmont, the last leg of the Triple Crown series will be starless. That’s bad news for TV ratings and NYRA maybe, but good news for horseplayers: This year’s race should be a competitive one.
– Lost in the Fog is headed to Churchill.
– In his first workout since suffering an injury earlier this year, Corinthian breezed three furlongs :38 at Belmont this morning. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens is hopeful that the talented cold will race before the end of the Belmont meet on July 22. As long as there are no setbacks in his training, it’s possible Corinthian could start in the Dwyer on July 4.
– Another possible for the Dwyer is the undefeated Discreet Cat, who would be making his first start since winning the UAE Derby in that race. “The Dwyer is the race we’re kind of pointing for,” said assistant trainer Rick Mattee. “The timing should work out good and it’s a mile and a sixteenth.”
– Balance will have surgery on Saturday to remove a bone chip in her ankle. “They say it’s very small … the way it looks in the x-rays it doesn’t look like she’ll be out too long — maybe 75 days,” said trainer David Hofmans.
– Trainer John Servis and owner Rick Porter split up this week. “I’m all right with it,” said Servis, who declined further comment. “We left on good terms.” The 26 horses that Porter had with Servis will be moved to several other trainers, including Kiaran McLaughlin and Tom Albertrani. Round Pond, winner of the Azeri Breeders’ Cup, will go to Michael Matz’s barn.

Posted in News, Triple Crown on May 25, 2006

Belmont Field Takes Shape

Without the Derby winner, and quite possibly without the Preakness winner as well, the Belmont is shaping up as an anti-climactic end to the Triple Crown season. Only five are confirmed for the race so far, including Steppenwolfer and Jazil; NYRA expects the list “to grow significantly in the coming days.”

Posted in Triple Crown on May 23, 2006