Belmont Stakes 2012

The collective gasp you heard from racing fans across the North American continent was the result of the scratch of the overwhelming favorite, I'll Have Another, from the 2012 Belmont Stakes.  Due to injury, this spectacular colt will not be able to run in the third leg of the Triple Crown and possibly make history.  Best wishes to him and his connections.

The Belmont must go on!  On this glorious Stakes Saturday we have to have a fix of TURF.  We will take a look at a Turf stakes race at Belmont as well as the Belmont Stakes.  An exciting day of horse racing awaits.

Belmont Park Race 8 {Just A Game~G1~1 mile~TURF~3 year old Up~fillies/mares~Stakes}
A great field of seven will venture onto the green for this mile long journey.  There is not a lot of speed here.  Consequently, the pace setters may have the edge.  The question then becomes, Who will the field concede the lead to?

#1 Tapitsfly (Dominguez / Romans) should be motoring on the front end with the second highest last out speed number, a two race progression, and two robust workouts.  It will be his first attempt over the Belmont grass, but appears to travel well.
$1 WIN / $1 SHOW.

#3 Wallis [GB] (Lezcano / Clement) should also be on the lead with the third highest speed number at the distance.  She is coming off a longer route and has put in two bullet workouts.  This turfista had a decent career on the sod across the pond and has done very well coming off the layoff. 
$1 PLACE / $1 SHOW.

#5 Hungry Island (J. Velazquez / McGaughey) will challenge the pace setters hoping for an honest pace in which to close in to.  She holds the highest last out speed number, a four race progression, and two good workouts.  Could be the favorite.
$1 SHOW.

Another Wagering Interest

#4 Winter Memories (Castellano / Toner) will be in the mix with the third highest last out speed number coming off a longer route, a two race progression, and three superb workouts.  She could track the pace well and launch into the stretch.

10 CENT Superfecta

#1 Tapitsfly, #3 Wallis [GB] / #1, #3 / #5 Hungry Island, #4 Winter Memories / #5, #4.


Belmont Park Race 11 {BELMONT STAKES~G1~1 1/2 mile~3 year old~Stakes}
It was disheartening to learn that there will be no run for the Triple Crown this year with the scratch of I'll Have Another.  There will be a field of eleven highly talented horses running for glory and the one million dollar purse.  It should still be a very exciting race.  And there will be pace.  Watch the trackers and closers battle on in the stretch.

#1 Street Life (Lezcano / C. Brown) should benefit nicely from a solid pace.  He has the third highest speed number going in, a five race progression, improving in every race in his five race career, and two salty workouts.  A deep closers that could sweep through the stretch.
$1 WIN / $2 PLACE / $3 SHOW.

#9 Paynter (Smith / Baffert) could be the one sitting close to the pace as I'll Have Another would have.  This serious colt holds the highest last out speed number, a four race progression, and three stamina producing workouts.  He will challenge and could pull off the victory.
$1 PLACE / $2 SHOW.

#5 Dullahan (Castellano / Romans) could go off as the favorite with the second highest last out speed number (third place finish in the Kentucky Derby), a four race progression, and three powerful peaking workouts.  Another closer who will take the utmost advantage of a solid pace.  He could find himself in the winners circle.
$1 SHOW.

Another Wagering Interest

#3  Union Rags (J. Velazquez / Matz) could run up to his potential with the fourth highest last out speed number and two excellent bullet workouts.  He should track the pace well and put the hammer down coming out of the turn.  He has to be considered with a win over the Belmont track.

10 CENT Superfecta

#1 Street Life / #9 Paynter / #5 Dullahan / #3 Union Rags.



Friday's Results
Belmont Park R10.  Brooklyn Handicap--G2.  Our first pick, Birdrun, finished 9th.  Our second pick, Redeemed, won (1st) for place money of $2.25 and show money of $1.55.  Our third pick, Eye On Jacob, finished 10th.
Superfecta went 10-6-1-3.
Bankroll gets chipped and drops to $4.02.  We will supplement with a Jackson for Belmont Day.  Bankroll sits at $24.02.