ELMONT, N.Y. - As he galloped through the homestretch at Belmont Park on Thursday morning, War Emblem passed oversized placards in the infield that bear the names and silks of the 11 Triple Crown winners. On Saturday afternoon, War Emblem will attempt to join that illustrious group, when the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner goes for the Triple Crown in the 134th Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. - In theory, it sounds good.

A late-developing 3-year-old skips the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and is a fresh, fit, and dangerous threat in the Belmont Stakes against those supposed worn-out horses.

In reality, it hasn't worked as often as one might think. In the last 60 years, a newcomer to the Triple Crown has won the Belmont 13 times. Six of those horses stopped Triple Crown bids.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A disappointed Allen Jerkens on Thursday said he discovered a bruise on Puzzlement's right front foot around 7 a.m. when Puzzlement was being readied for his morning gallop. Puzzlement exhibited soreness in his right front and there was heat in the hoof area.

"I don't know how he did it," said Jerkens, who was forced to scratch Puzzlement from the Belmont. "The vet says it looks like an abscess is getting ready to come out."

Jerkens said Puzzlement's hoof will be tubbed in hot water and a poultice will be applied to help draw out the abscess.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Most of the people who exercise at Evolution Fitness in Pasadena, Calif., on weekday mornings do not make a fuss over the small man working with weights next to them.

Jockey Victor Espinoza, who will shoot for the Triple Crown aboard War Emblem in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, is content for things to stay that way. Espinoza would prefer that the other 1,200 members not know that he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes this year, or that is a part-owner of the fitness center.

AUBURN, Wash. - Pacific Reign and Got You Slew, the second- and third-place finishers in a similar race on May 25, could be the ones to beat in Saturday's top offering at Emerald Downs, a 6 1/2 furlong test for $32,000 fillies and mares that has drawn a competitive cast of nine.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Despite losing his last start, Blowin in the Wind still figures to be a solid choice over seven other 3-year-olds in a $50,000 optional race set for 1 1/16 miles at Hastings Park Saturday. Other than Woody's Diamond, who was stakes placed in the 1 1/16-mile Ascot Graduation Breeders' Cup last year, those in the field will be going around three turns for the first time.

CALGARY, Alberta - When Don Gilkyson sends out Little Lolitta and Slewabilty in Saturday's Duchess of York at Stampede Park, the stablemates will be looking for their third straight one-two finish in stakes competition at this meeting.

Little Lolitta scored in the M.R. Jenkins Memorial and Slewability turned the tables in the Ken Pearson Memorial, providing Gilkyson with a pair of exactors from his formidable duo.

The $40,000 Duchess of York drew 10 fillies and mares stretching out to 1 1/16 miles.

To many, War Emblem came out of nowhere when he won the Kentucky Derby at 20-1 and followed with a win in the Preakness Stakes.

But while the focus was on early Derby favorites such as Siphonic, Repent, Johannesburg, and Harlan's Holiday, War Emblem's quiet ascendance went on outside the public view.

ELMONT, N.Y. - An outstanding lineup of grass runners will meet in Saturday's $400,000 Manhattan, a Grade 1, on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Eight older males, including three Grade 1 winners, entered the Manhattan, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles over the inner turf.

ELMONT, N.Y. - If not for an unfortunate incident at the start of his second race, Yankee Gentleman may have actually been ready for Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Instead, he makes his stakes debut on the undercard in the $200,000 Riva Ridge Breeders' Cup, a race that, despite being void of a graded stakes winner, drew a strong group of 3-year-old sprinters.