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The 2007 Belmont Stakes should read a welcome to horse racing’s Fear Factor. “Fear Factor”, the television series that ran from 2001 through last year captured the attention of many TV viewers in America.
Horse racing’s version goes back many decades. I’m talking years and years. But the measure of success depends on your point of view. Let me count the ways.
In ’73, only four horses challenged Secretariat in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of his Triple Crown sweep for obvious reasons. Five years later the same number tried to derail Affirmed’s gallop into Triple Crown history, among them Alydar, the runner-up all three times.
Fast forward to ’94, when Go for Gin won the Kentucky Derby and Tabasco Cat took the Preakness. Only four others challenged the pair in the Belmont – for good reason. Tabasco Cat defeated Go for Gin by two lengths.
Three years later, Silver Charm and Free House scared away challengers and only five showed up. Unfortunately, one of them was Touch Gold, who denied Silver Charmer the Triple Crown by three-quarters of a length.
In ’03, Funny Cide was trying to become the 12th Triple Crown champion and only five horses were entered. Among them was Empire Maker, the Kentucky Derby runner-up that skipped the Preakness, who ended Funny Cide’s dream.
It appears the Fear Factor is at work again. During the 21st Century, no less than nine horses, except for ’03, ran in the Belmont. The only way that will happen is if Kentucky Oaks winner Rags to Riches takes on the boys.
And the only way that could happen is if one of the Big 3 –Curlin, Street Sense or Hard Spun — stays in the barn, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.
In addition, Rags to Riches regular rider Garrett Gomez is replacing Mario Pino on Hard Spun. And John Velazquez, Pletcher’s main jockey who rode Circular Quay in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, will ride Slew’s Tizzy.
Pletcher, however, hasn’t ruled out either horse, bit hints only one is likely to go: “All that means is that those guys can’t wait around long enough for somebody to made a decision. If (Circular Quay) runs, we’ll get somebody on him.â€
Great Hunter was committed to the Belmont, but “he didn’t cool out super well on Thursday (May 24)†after a five-furlong workout over Hollywood Park’s cushion track, said trainer Doug O’Neill. “We didn’t think much of it at the time. The next day, when the poultice was washed off his leg, we noticed some filling.â€
X-rays showed a chip in his right front ankle that will require surgery. “He’s a strong, solid horse,†O’Neill said, “so we’ll be in good shape when he returns.â€
Right now the likely seven-horse field is Curlin, Street Sense, Hard Spun, Slew’s Tizzy, Imawildandcrazyguy, Tiago and Sightseeing. (See Belmont Stakes contenders’ profiles.)
That could change, but there are plenty of lucrative purses awaiting 3-year-olds once summer heats up.
Greg Melikov has been handicapping and writing about horses for decades. His articles and columns appear in print and on the Internet around the world. Greg is a retired newspaperman who became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, his favorite horse, whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park.
Greg Melikov has been handicapping and writing about horses for decades. His articles and columns appear in print and on the Internet around the world. Greg is a retired newspaperman who became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, his favorite horse, whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park.
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