From Brad Free, Byron King, Steve Klein, Dave Litfin, Mike Watchmaker, Mike Welsch, and DRF handicappers
If Curlin had won the Preakness by four lengths rather than a head, he would appear even more formidable in the Belmont. Since the Preakness runner-up did not enter back, it means Curlin did finish four clear of his nearest Preakness foe, and that makes him a standout in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Brad Free
Curlin
Imawildandcrazyguy
ELMONT, N.Y. - In 1905, Albert Einstein introduced his theory of relativity, Las Vegas was founded, and Wilbur Wright set a world record by flying an airplane 24 miles in 39 minutes.
Oh yeah, and a filly named Tanya won the Belmont Stakes.
In the 102 years since then, Einstein has become a synonym for genius, Las Vegas has turned into the gambling mecca of the universe, and the Concorde made it possible to travel the 3,500 miles between New York and London in 3 1/2 hours.
But no filly has won the Belmont Stakes.
ELMONT, N.Y. - A field of seven, led by Preakness Stakes winner Curlin, was entered on Wednesday for the 139th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Curlin landed post 3 and was made the 6-5 favorite on the lines set by both Eric Donovan, of the New York Racing Association, and Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Dr. Greg Fox has filled many different roles in the racing industry since starting out as a neophyte veterinarian in central Virginia in 1989. Nearly two decades later, the 45-year-old Fox will do something he has never done in the business: saddle a horse for a Triple Crown event.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The Belmont Stakes has gone from rags to riches.
That might be just a wee bit of hyperbole, being as Preakness Stakes winner Curlin and Triple Crown stalwart Hard Spun were already in the field. But the decision on Tuesday by trainer Todd Pletcher to race the nation's unquestioned leading 3-year-old filly, Rags to Riches, against the boys in the 139th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park made the final leg of the Triple Crown far more interesting than one known in large part for missing Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.
ELMONT, N.Y. C P West, who finished fourth in the Preakness Stakes three weeks ago, was added to the field for Saturday's 139th Belmont Stakes on Tuesday by trainer Nick Zito.
"As things went on, with no Street Sense and a very small field, and him having showed in the Preakness he belongs with these horses, it made sense," Zito said. "I heard the band, and the next thing I was marching."
Zito said Edgar Prado, who rode C P West in the Preakness, would retain the mount for the Belmont.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Even though Hard Spun has run well enough to finish second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness, trainer Larry Jones marvels over how much unsolicited advice he continues to get on what to do with his talented 3-year-old colt.
"Most everyone in America apparently thinks they can [train him], and they sure don't mind calling and giving their opinion of what I did wrong," Jones said Sunday morning as he let Hard Spun graze following a five-furlong breeze in 1:03.15 in preparation for Saturday's $1 million Belmont Stakes.
ELMONT, N.Y. - It was raining so hard at Belmont Park on Monday morning that trainer Steve Asmussen said he could hear it over the phone when calling from Churchill Downs.
"I canceled the works I had scheduled up there," Asmussen said. "Then I went outside and let out a deep sigh of relief that I was still here."
Curlin, who won the Preakness Stakes and is expected to be a heavy favorite in the 139th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, worked a half-mile in 50.60 seconds on Monday morning at Churchill Downs in his final work for the Belmont.
Carmen Rosas, his regular exercise rider, was aboard for the drill.
"He went nice and smooth," Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Curlin, said from Churchill Downs. "For a horse who's going to be going a mile and a half, we want to keep him relaxed and fluid, and that's what he's showing us."
