The 142nd Belmont Stakes 2010: Pretenders, Maybes and Contenders
By GREG MELIKOV
Here’s a look at the 12-horse Belmont field in the 142nd Belmont Stakes 2010 at 1 1/2 miles on Saturday from the Pretenders to the Contenders.
The Pretenders
Dave in Dixie: Son of Dixie Union comes off a nine-week layoff after finishing more than 15 3/4 lengths behind American Lion in the Illinois Derby. In turn, three horses that finished ahead of him at Hawthorne didn’t hit the board in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. He’d be the first winner out of post 12. The camp of this late starter is whistling you know what.
Spangled Star: He doesn’t have a banner record, taking six races to break his maiden at a mile on Jan. 6. Breeding says he could get the distance, but the son of Distorted Humor hasn’t traveled further than 1 1/16 miles. In two words: too slow.
Stay Put: Son of Broken Vow won consecutive at races at Fair Grounds, breaking his maiden in December, but finished fifth in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby. On the Kentucky Derby card he won an optional claimer. He ought to try is luck in a lesser stakes on Belmont Day.
Interactif: Late starter gives trainer Todd Pletcher a chance, but it’s between slim and none. Last outing was eight weeks ago. Just before the Kentucky Derby, Pletcher told BloodHorse.com: “He’s better on the grass. Even though he trained well here, we felt that at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt, that’s probably not his specialty.” So why not stick to original plans and send another son of Broken Vow to the Hill Prince on grass.
Stately Victor: Is the son Ghostzapper a one stakes wonder? He broke his maiden on the Saratoga turf last September and captured the Blue Grass on Kenneland‘s sythentic surface, but hasn’t hit the board in three tries on dirt. The large horse with a long stride, eighth in the Derby, may find Big Sandy’s sweeping turns to his liking. Then again he may not.
The Maybes
Uptowncharlybrown: One of two lightly raced starters with five outings, he won a minor Tampa Bay Downs stakes after breaking his maiden. But as trainer Kiaran McClaren recently said, “The distance is a question mark, but it’s question mark for everybody. This horse has a big stride and gallops out strong, always.” Son of Limehouse has been working well, but did no better than third at 1 1/16 miles in three trips.
Drosselmeyer: Another son of Distorted Humor has steadily improved in three stakes after winning in allowance company. He has worked well at Belmont Park and could be sitting on a big race. Can the switch to Mike Smith get the same results as Martin Garcia did for Lookin at Lucky in the Preakness? We shall see.
Game on Dude: Lacking a 2-year-old foundation, the son of Awesome Again broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in February, but finished a distant seventh in the Florida Derby. He didn’t live up to his sire’s name until taking the Lone Star Derby. Will the returning Garcia pull it off on June 5? You make the call.
The Belmont Stakes Contenders
First Dude: the Preakness Stakes runner-up set the pace in three races this year, breaking his maiden at a mile and finishing second in two longer routes. There have been only two wire-to-wire jobs the past quarter-century so the son of Stephen Got Even must rate to win. However, he appears to be the lone speed and may have to go to the front. If the early 7-2 second choice can set a moderate pace, he just might score.
Ice Box: Half of trainer Nick Zito’s one-two punch closed to finish second in Kentucky Derby coming off a nose victory in Florida Derby. The morning line 3-1 favorite must stay closer in the Belmont to get the job done because a quick pace is unlikely. Son of Pulpit worked well at Saratoga and ran fourth as juvenile at Belmont with Jose Lezcano up. Should hit the board.
Make Music for Me: Solid foundation as 2-year-old bodes well as the son of Berstein finished in the money three times in stakes behind Lookin at Lucky. The fourth-place finisher in Derby does best racing closer to the pace and could surprise higher than his early 10-1 odds.
Fly Down: Only runner with two trips over Belmont’s dirt posted an impressive six-length victory in the Dwyer. The morning line 9-2 third choice defeated First Dude twice and finished ahead of others in this field. John Velazquez, aboard ’07 winner Rags to Riches, returns after riding the son of Mineshaft to third at Belmont in his debut five races back. The chestnut colt is my major key in exotics.
Tags: Dave in Dixie, Drosselmeyer, First Dude, Fly Down, Game On Dude, Ice Box, Interactif, Make Music for Me, Spangled Star, Stately Victor, Stay Put, Uptowncharlybrown
"The 142nd Belmont Stakes 2010: Pretenders, Maybes and Contenders" was posted on 3 June 2010 10:53 PM under Belmont Stakes, Horse Racing News, Horses, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
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