2015: American Pharoah becomes 12th Triple Crown winner

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Maybe they think second in this race with a huge purse is wide open.

Or they just want to come to the party!

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Maybe they think second in this race with a huge purse is wide open.

Just like the connections of Ruler On Ice, Da Tara, Commendable, Sarava, and Go And Go.

[Alabama Stakes]

If a hoss likes Belmont, the jump in class isn't a big deal, according to surly

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

If a hoss likes Belmont, the jump in class isn't a big deal, according to surly

Horses for the courses for sure. As we well know Belmont is not cut out for many horses. I agree in general for ungraded stakes and below but not when you racing against the current top level horse or horses entered in the Belmont.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Just like the connections of Ruler On Ice, Da Tara, Commendable, Sarava, and Go And Go.

True, I guess.

Commendable was only like 18/1 or so, and if you toss his KY Derby race, had pretty decent form against better horses than he was facing in the Belmont. Plus, Lukas loves throwing darts like that.

[Arletta]

Mubtaahij works 4 times in 11 days?

http://www.courier-journal.com/story...ahij/28073545/

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Arletta

Mubtaahij works 4 times in 11 days?

http://www.courier-journal.com/story...ahij/28073545/

Well, his trainer is one of the greatest in the world, so I'm sure it makes sense.

Perhaps he's just trying to get a head of steam rolling to level the playing field.

[wac]

Can someone explain to me why competitive edge isn't going in the Belmont? U guys know more then I do but his last couple of races have looked awfully good to me. Is there a distance limitation? Just don't get it as by my eyes I think he is the best 3yr old tap has. Jmo.

[Danzig]

He may be that, but CE will be pointing to either the woody stephens or the met mile. Good move. Pletcher has others seemingly more suited to the longer belmont.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

True, I guess.

Commendable was only like 18/1 or so, and if you toss his KY Derby race, had pretty decent form against better horses than he was facing in the Belmont. Plus, Lukas loves throwing darts like that.

Commendable had failed to hit the board in any of his starts between his debut maiden win at 2 and the his Belmont win at 3 (of course, he never won another race, either).

As far as form against better horses, both Unshaded and Globalize had defeated him in the Lexington and then ran in the Belmont.

[Alabama Stakes]

Originally Posted by wac

Can someone explain to me why competitive edge isn't going in the Belmont? U guys know more then I do but his last couple of races have looked awfully good to me. Is there a distance limitation? Just don't get it as by my eyes I think he is the best 3yr old tap has. Jmo.

sharp post.

[jnunan4759]

Originally Posted by wac

Can someone explain to me why competitive edge isn't going in the Belmont? U guys know more then I do but his last couple of races have looked awfully good to me. Is there a distance limitation? Just don't get it as by my eyes I think he is the best 3yr old tap has. Jmo.

Agree, Pletcher is already running 3 (maybe) in the race and all these horses have different owners. As an owner, you don't like to see your trainer enter another horse in a race you are in, especially if it can beat you.

The horse has shown he can run well short and the jump to 1 1/2 mile would be kinda crazy. He got hurt and is behind these horses and there will be plenty of races for him. Woody Stephens is logical.

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by Kasept

GRENING: The Truth or Else likely for Belmont

THE TRUTH OR ELSE, a recent allowance winner at Belmont Park , is likely to join the Belmont Stakes field, trainer Ken McPeek said Thursday.

McPeek, who won the 2002 Belmont with longshot Sarava - a race in which the Bob Baffert-trained War Emblem was going for the Triple Crown -- said The Truth or Else is70 percent to run.

"He's 2-for-3 over the track, he's out of. Colonial Affair mare, whether he's got the class or not ...." McPeek said. "We're leaning that way."

The Truth or Else won a maiden race over at Belmont last September and an allowance race going 1 1-16 miles here on May 22.

McPeek said Edgar Prado would ride The Truth or Else if he runs. Prado rode Sarava and Birdstone (2004) to victories in the Belmont Stakes.

Out..... Filling in the ankle this morning.

[TouchOfGrey]

Jay Privman ‏@DRFPrivman 8m:

Carpe Diem will not run in Belmont, trainer Todd Pletcher informs

[Alabama Stakes]

they're dropping like flies.....remember how Secretariat used to lower his head to go faster ? he was truly amazing. Nothing like a fresh dose of Riva Ridge and Secretariat to an eleven year old kid, to get the juices going for a lifetime. I don't know what I had for lunch yesterday, but watching Secretariat on TV this morning seemed so fresh in my mind.

[Kasept]

6/6/15 (BEL): Belmont Stakes

American Pharoah (Baffert/V. Espinoza)
Keen Ice (Romans/Desormeaux)
Mubtaahij (de Kock/I. Ortiz)
Tale of Verve (Stewart/Stevens)
Madefromlucky (Pletcher/Velazquez)
Materiality (Pletcher/Castellano)
Frosted (McLaughlin/Rosario)
Frammento (Zito/Smith)

[Alabama Stakes]

Value is fading fast.....

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

6/6/15 (BEL): Belmont Stakes

American Pharoah (Baffert/V. Espinoza)
Keen Ice (Romans/Desormeaux)
Mubtaahij (de Kock/I. Ortiz)
Tale of Verve (Stewart/Stevens)
Madefromlucky (Pletcher/Velazquez)
Materiality (Pletcher/Castellano)
Frosted (McLaughlin/Rosario)
Frammento (Zito/Smith)

I predicted 7, although one would have to think all of these will give it a go, save a an ailment which nobody wants to see.

[Indian Charlie]

The connections of the California based horses have all gone Roberto Duran on this race.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

The connections of the California based horses have all gone Roberto Duran on this race.

Who is missing? Firing Line and Dortmund both took 2 shots and are spent horses.

Next weekend is the Affirmed Stakes that will have some late bloomers and a couple of reboots. If horses like Kentuckian, Prospect Park, Madiba and Cyrus Alexander had a bit more bottom to them, perhaps one would have pointed to New York.

Jerry Hollendorfer also took over the training of Desert Dynamo, who was being groomed as the next Distinctiv Passion under Jeff Bonde, and promptly stretched him out with great success this weekend. Second dam was the Tartan mare Coup de Fusil, who knocked heads with Personal Ensign, Lady's Secret, Sachauista, etc.

Beyond California, I would have liked to have seen Divining Rod point to the Belmont.