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Belmont Park Notes

Horse Racing
Belmont Stakes
Triple Crown Winners



Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown remains “right on target” for the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Belmont Park (race 11, 6:25 p.m. EDT), in which he will attempt to become racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner and the first in 30 years.

With a set of stainless steel wires holding a small quarter-crack together, Big Brown galloped a mile and a half Thursday morning under exercise rider Michelle Nevin. Trainer Rick Dutrow said the colt would breeze once before the 1 ½-mile Belmont, either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, after a patch is applied to the five-eighths inch crack on the inside of his left front hoof.

“It’s coming slowly but surely,” said Dutrow. “If we were under pressure, (hoof specialist Ian McKinlay) could patch him today but we’re not under any pressure. We’ve got time. Today’s only Thursday.”

Big Brown developed the quarter crack after galloping last Friday, and remained in his barn over the Memorial Day weekend. On Tuesday, after the crack was laced together, the colt jogged and then resumed galloping Wednesday morning.

On a scale of 1-10, McKinlay, said the quarter-crack was about a “seven or eight” in terms of being healed.

“At this, point we are playing it as safe as possible,” said McKinlay. “All I do is make sure the wires are intact. I just check it every day after it’s done.”

The 140th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes will be race 11 of a 13-race card on Saturday, June 7. First race post is noon and the last race post is 7:40 p.m. Gates open at 8:30 a.m.

On Belmont Stakes Day, general parking is $10; preferred parking is $25. There is no valet parking on Belmont Stakes Day. General admission is $10; Clubhouse admission is $20. Children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult.

Reserved seats are sold out for Belmont Stakes Day.


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Nobutaka Tada, managing director of Globe Equine Management Ltd. and spokesperson for owner Hidetoshi Yamamato and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, said a decision would be made on Sunday on whether or not to run Spark Candle in the Belmont Stakes

Spark Candle, a $1.5 million purchase in the Keeneland September 2006 Sale, pressed Mint Lane in the Grade 2, nine-furlong Peter Pan here on May 10 through fractions of 23.08, 46.31 and 1:10.47 for the first six furlongs. He finished sixth.

That set up stablemate Casino Drive for his impressive victory in only his second start.

Tada said that there is some concern over a lack of pace among the expected Belmont Stakes participants, and that would be the only reason to run the $1.5 million “rabbit.”

Casino Drive, a $950,000 purchase from that same sale, is undefeated in two career starts. He is a three-quarter brother to 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches and a half-brother to 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil. All three are out of the Deputy Minister mare, Better Than Honour.

Meanwhile, Tada has taken some time to enjoy the area. He has been to Manhattan twice, found a local Irish pub – “First Guinness in five weeks” – and Friday, he and assistant trainer Tomo Ozeki, exercise rider Nobu Maeda and groom Mosa Teshima are going to Shea Stadium, where the New York Mets will host the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. in a major league baseball game.


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Belmont Park will offer a $1 million guaranteed Pick 6 beginning on race 6 on Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 7. A $1 million guaranteed Pick 4 will begin on race 8.

Race 6, 3:08 p.m., 30th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 True North Handicap, 3 and up, six furlongs: Abraaj, Benny the Bull, Man of Danger, Thor’s Echo. Questionable: Kelly’s Landing, Starforaday and Storm in May.

Race 7, 3:46 p.m., the 15th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Just A Game, fillies and mares, 3 and up, one mile, Widener Turf Course: Bayou’s Lassie, Bit of Whimsy, Criminologist, Lady of Venice (FR), Sharp Susan, Spenditallbaby, Vacare and Ventura. Questionable: Danzon and Dreaming of Anna.

Race 8, 4:25 p.m., the 23rd running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Woody Stephens, three-year-olds, seven furlongs: Fatal Bullet, Fidelio, Groomedforvictory, J Be K, Majestic Warrior, Motovato, Silver Edition and True Quality. Questionable: Dynhocracy, Ling Ling Qi and Run With Me.

Race 9, 5:04 p.m., the 78th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Acorn, three-year-old fillies, one mile: Dance Gal Dance, Game Face, Golden Doc A, Indian Blessing and Zaftig. Questionable: Awesome Chic, Hams and Sherine.

Race 10, 5:44 p.m., the 107th running Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap, 3 and up, mile and a quarter, inner turf: A.P. Arrow, Better Talk Now, Cougar Bay (IRE), Dancing Forever, Einstein (BRZ), Interpatation, Mission Approved, Out of Control (BRZ), Pays to Dream, Shake the Bank, Stalingrad, Stream of Gold (IRE) and Strike a Deal. Questionable: A.P. Arrow and Proudinsky (GER).

Race 11, 6:25 p.m., 140th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes: Anak Nakal, Big Brown, Casino Drive, Denis of Cork, Icabad Crane and Tale of Ekati. Questionable: Behindatthebar, Ready’s Echo, Spark Candle and Tomcito.



Although Big Brown easily won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the Belmont Stakes looms ahead and it has thwarted 18 others who sought the Triple Crown. Those were:

1944 – Pensive

1958 – Tim Tam

1961 – Carry Back

1964 – Northern Dancer

1966 – Kauai King

1968 – Forward Pass

1969 – Majestic Prince

1971 – Canonero II

1979 – Spectacular Bid

1981 – Pleasant Colony

1987 – Alysheba

1989 – Sunday Silence

1997 – Silver Charm

1998 – Real Quiet

1999 – Charismatic

2002 – War Emblem

2003 – Funny Cide

2004 – Smarty Jones



RACING’S TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS:

Sir Barton, 1919

Assault, 1946

Gallant Fox, 1930

Omaha, 1935

Citation, 1948

Secretariat, 1973

War Admiral, 1937

Seattle Slew, 1977

Whirlaway, 1941

Affirmed, 1978

Count Fleet, 1943




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Good Luck!