One year ago, the horse racing world was abuzz with the prospect of the first Triple Crown victor since Affirmed in 1978, and American Pharoah delivered triumphantly in the Belmont Stakes.
Advertisement
“He [Creator] was the ideal horse by inches”, Asmussen told reporters.
Three Triple Crown races.
Romans says both colts are coming into the 1 ½ mile Belmont is fine shape – in fact much better than their trainer, who is dealing with aches and swelling nearly five weeks after the wreck.
Now making just his third start of the year, Stradivari gets another chance for a capable barn that clearly holds this runner in high esteem. Ortiz Jr. has been red hot on the NY circuit.
On a 13-race care starting at 10:35 a.m. CDT, the Belmont is race 11 and scheduled at 5:37 p.m. on NBC Sports (Resort Channel 4).
After ending Nyquist’s Triple Crown bid in the Preakness, Exaggerator is generally available at 11-8 with British bookmakers for Saturday’s $1.5 million event, with Suddenbreakingnews next best on the 6-1 mark.
10 Lani Take Matsunaga 20-1 COMMENT Made up 22 lengths to finish fifth in the Preakness, and the Japanese import is clearly improving but must break more alertly if he wants to win races in this country.
According to Trakus, electronic technology that tracks each horse’s actual split times and speed during the race, Suddenbreakingnews registered the fastest third-quarter mile (23.69 seconds), fastest fourth-quarter mile (24.62 seconds) and fastest final quarter mile (24.67 seconds) times of any runner in the Derby field. Drawing the rail seems to be an advantage here as that post-position has won more Belmont stakes than any other post. The last horse to go from last to first in the Belmont was Jazil in 2006. “He’s a good horse that’ll run on anything”.
Creator was one of several closers in the field, and the race set up perfectly for him. Odds: 12-1. 2.DESTIN (Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano): A respectable sixth in Derby, skipped Preakness.
#13 Creator (10-1): If you ignore his turf starts and draw a line through his troubled Kentucky Derby outing, you’re left with all in-the-money finishes in dirt routes. Gettysburg. Will fold late, but hang on to round out the superfecta.
As for the work, “the time is of secondary importance”, Keith Desormeaux said.
“When I saw the 48 and 4/5th first half mile, I knew it gave Creator a shot”, said Asmussen who also trains Gettysburg.
Instead of fielding questions about how he plans to get Exaggerator over the hump, Keith Desormeaux is now being lauded for bringing him into the 12-furlong Belmont with seemingly few holes. American Pharoah did it previous year to complete the Triple Crown. Longshot Cherry Wine just getting up for second helped make it a rare good day at the windows for myself at Old Hilltop.
“So I attribute the way he looked in those two off-track races to an incredibly fast pace more than the fact that the slop or the mud moved him up”.
The best place for him during the race is to settle mid pack, McKathan said. “That was going to take all the air out of the balloon”, said Francesa.
Instead, an underdog owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay stole the show. Head coach Vicky Maes said in a news release that Veeder “loves” being on the court coaching young people.
Advertisement
All eyes were on Exaggerator in the 148th running of the Belmont Stakes. Mrs McDougal is the 4-1 choice in a field of 13 in the Just a Game. Kentucky Oaks (GI) champion Cathryn Sophia is a probable contender for the Acorn. The colt’s unimpressive 13th place finish in the Kentucky Derby may be attributed to some interference with Oscar Nominated as they turned for home.
