Who are you looking at in the Belmont?

**EBone** · 06-04-07, 02:57 PM

I don't know yet, img. However, I am waiting to get a pick from picantel. If I recall correctly, he has picked the Belmont correctly two years in a row. I hope he can deliver the 3rd time.

E

**Seattle Slew** · 06-04-07, 04:24 PM

I don't like the race, but since I can't pass I'll try and beat Curlin and Hard Spun with somebody.

**thezbar** · 06-04-07, 07:06 PM

My first thought was that Hard Spun could go wire to wire.Now that Slew's Tizzy and Digger are part of the pace picture it doesn't appear that simple.I like Rags to Riches to finish in the money if she goes.Tiago is getting a push from the numbers handicappers because of his improving pattern and could be a live longshot.I'm not keen on Curlin because of the short price.I'm going to take another look at Imawildandcrazyguy after the entries are drawn.I.m finished with Circular Quay/he's a toss out for me.
I am looking forward to the other races on the Belmont card more so than the Belmont Stakes itself.

**gummo** · 06-04-07, 07:11 PM

I'd love to see Rags to Riches run.

**thezbar** · 06-04-07, 07:23 PM

I agree gummo,She should love the extra distance.I'm not sure she could prevail in an eyeball to eyeball duel with a colt,that is my hesitation. She's exacta material if she goes,however Gomez is committeed to Hard Spun,so we'll see.

**onlooker** · 06-04-07, 10:30 PM

I will be looking to you guys for some horse information, because I'm not that big on them.

But I'm with IMG and Seattle Slew, I would think Hard Spun and Curlin would have to be in a bet somewhere.

**picantel** · 06-05-07, 08:49 AM

I am honestly not sure on this race. I usually pick closers who come about in the belmont and kick ass. This year, as I was sick of always losing the derby, I went with a front ender who got 2nd and then 3rd. I am having a hard time justifying playing hard spun again because they have been burning him out and now go to a bigger track. The only good thing he has going is I was watching past belmont races and the front end does reasonably well about half the time. Will decide later.

**Seattle Slew** · 06-05-07, 02:16 PM

The best filly in recent years to try the Belmont was Silverbulletday, who I thought had a great shot in that race and she went to the lead and stopped. I just can't back fillies in this spot, dirt and long distance. I think their best shot to beat the boys are in sprints or turf races.

Circualr Quay should be a throwout for me as well, since he ran like crap in both races. Only recent history in that pattern as Magdalia D'oro, who bombed in the Derby and Preakness (favored in Preakness, I think) and came back and lost by a nose in the Belmont at a big price.

Originally posted by gummo

I'd love to see Rags to Riches run.

**imgv94** · 06-05-07, 03:07 PM

Rags to Riches won't run..

Curlin and Hard Spun should run one-two.. Hard Spun will love the extra distance, if he could go the six furlongs in 114 or so he will be tough..

Hard Spun is a great show bet for show bettors IMO.. Curlin is a freak who will only improve.. I see these two horses having six lenghts on the rest of the field at the 1/16 pole..

**thezbar** · 06-05-07, 04:06 PM

According to the racing form Rags to Riches is scheduled to run Saturday . Johnny V. will ride. Slew's Tizzy gets Bejarano.

**gummo** · 06-05-07, 06:56 PM

Yeah she's in.

Trainer Todd Pletcher announced Tuesday morning that Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) will run in Saturday's $1 million Belmont S. (G1). The blazed-faced chestnut has been dominant in three straight Grade 1 victories over fillies this year. The Belmont will be her first start against males.

"The filly has been training great and the spacing between the Kentucky Oaks (May 4) and the Belmont Stakes was ideal," Pletcher said. "She has been training great at Belmont Park since the Oaks and she had a great workout on Sunday. She came out of that work in great shape."

**imgv94** · 06-05-07, 11:13 PM

Yeah I read this too.. I hope she gets scratched before the race cause I think it's a bad move to run her in this race..

What does Pletcher think these horses are going to smell her puszy to the wire?

**thezbar** · 06-05-07, 11:51 PM

Her value would increase with a placing in this race.If she wins it would most likely insure an the award as top three year old filly.She will be the third choice in the choice in the wagering,that alone indicates she has a shot.I'm sure the owners had a say in the decision,Pletcher didn't do this on his own.She's breed to stay the mile and a half.Even if she finishes third the financial gains could be worth the apparant risk.
Both Curlin and Hard Spun are coming off a hard race in Maryland, Rags to Riches has had five weeks off.I disagree imgv94.I think its a clever move
Win or lose she will still be odds-on in the Alabama or Mother Goose stakes in her next race.

**imgv94** · 06-06-07, 12:18 AM

Originally posted by thezbar

Her value would increase with a placing in this race.If she wins it would most likely insure an the award as top three year old filly.She will be the third choice in the choice in the wagering,that alone indicates she has a shot.I'm sure the owners had a say in the decision,Pletcher didn't do this on his own.She's breed to stay the mile and a half.Even if she finishes third the financial gains could be worth the apparant risk.
Both Curlin and Hard Spun are coming off a hard race in Maryland, Rags to Riches has had five weeks off.I disagree imgv94.I think its a clever move
Win or lose she will still be odds-on in the Alabama or Mother Goose stakes in her next race.

I don't think she is any better than Silverbulletday was.. If she hits the board I will come into this thread after the race and give you a ton of credit.

**Seattle Slew** · 06-06-07, 12:34 AM

I agree here as well. I don't think the 3-year-old filly division is that good this year anyways. She might hit the board simply because of the small field but I'd be shocked if she contended in the stretch or finished in the top 2.

The filly is already worth a fortune as a dam, so winning the Belmont might add to the price but she's already worth a fortune. My fear would be she could get injured. Bad move by the owners and Pletcher.

Originally posted by imgv94

I don't think she is any better than Silverbulletday was.. If she hits the board I will come into this thread after the race and give you a ton of credit.

**imgv94** · 06-06-07, 12:36 AM

It's asking a ton for her to go 2 extra furlongs than she ever has gone..

I don't think she has ever raced over mile and an 1/8th right?

**Seattle Slew** · 06-06-07, 11:52 AM

No, she hasn't. Plus, she's only had 5 total starts, ran only once as a 2-year-old and didn't break her maiden until January of 2007. Lot to ask to run in the Belmont 6 months later for a filly.

Of course, with my luck, she'll win by 10 lengths.

Originally posted by imgv94

I don't think she has ever raced over mile and an 1/8th right?

**EBone** · 06-06-07, 12:10 PM

The more and more I look at this race, I find it almost impossible to keep Curlin out of the money.

Maybe the best thing to do is exacta box him with some of the longer shots like Tiago and C P West. That's what I'm leaning toward right now and maybe loading up on an across bet on Curlin.

E

**kdmfox** · 06-06-07, 12:47 PM

Rags To Riches is a half sister to last year's Belmont winner ... Jazil

I think she has a good shot here with those credentials and at a value play ... She hits the board.

**thezbar** · 06-06-07, 02:55 PM

Interesting note in tomorrow's Form.There was a late-hour bid by Ron Anderson,jockey agent for Garrett Gomez to get off of Hard Spun and back on Rags to Riches.Larry Jones trainer for Hard Spun held Gomez to his original commitment.
None of these three year olds have run a mile and one half.Most likely after Saturday they won't ever run that distance again.That fact alone holds me from wagering any serious money in the race.

**kdmfox** · 06-06-07, 04:03 PM

If Gomez was trying to get off Hard Spun and on Rags To Riches, then he must think she's the better horse ... These guys go where the $ is.

**imgv94** · 06-06-07, 10:25 PM

Originally posted by EBone

The more and more I look at this race, I find it almost impossible to keep Curlin out of the money.

Maybe the best thing to do is exacta box him with some of the longer shots like Tiago and C P West. That's what I'm leaning toward right now and maybe loading up on an across bet on Curlin.

E

Tiago is a very good horse who will love mile a and a half. Loved the way he galloped out in the Derby..

**imgv94** · 06-08-07, 04:36 PM

bump

**thezbar** · 06-08-07, 07:05 PM

Back from the otb were I placed my Belmont wagers.I ended up with Hard Spun first,Rags to Riches second,Curlin third.Hard Spun could get the right trip in here,Rags to Riches should be competitive,I respect Curlin,but taking the risk he may regress off his last effort.
My twenty dollars went this way.$1 tri box h.s/rtr/c; $2 ex box h.s/rtr;$2 ex box c/rtr;$2 ex hs,c/rtr;$2 win Tiago. G.L everyone

**EBone** · 06-08-07, 10:30 PM

Originally posted by EBone

The more and more I look at this race, I find it almost impossible to keep Curlin out of the money.

Maybe the best thing to do is exacta box him with some of the longer shots like Tiago and C P West. That's what I'm leaning toward right now and maybe loading up on an across bet on Curlin.

E

I think I'm gonna do exactly what I said above:

$20 WPS Curlin = Total $60

Exacta Box: Curlin, Tiago and CP West = Total $12

That's my pick, gentlemen. I may throw some money on what picantel and kdmfox posts but, other than that, I can't seem to find a combo that makes sense to me tomorrow.

Good luck everyone.

E

**onlooker** · 06-08-07, 10:51 PM

Post Positions:

Imawildandcrazyguy
Tiago
Curlin
C P West
Slew's Tizzy
Hard Spun
Rags to Riches

**picantel** · 06-09-07, 12:53 PM

I have thought about it and decided I hate this belmont. I refuse to play the filly and I refuse to play curlin as a heavy fave. No fun in that. Hardspun will no doubt break my heart again so as a longshot chaser I am going with Tiago. I will also back it up with hardspun over tiago and curlin just in case. I am only gonna spend a couple hundred so no biggie if I lose.

**kdmfox** · 06-09-07, 01:07 PM

125 WP on Rags To Riches
50 EX Rags To Riches and Curlin
25 EX Curlin and Rags To Riches

**MBENZ** · 06-09-07, 01:21 PM

Hope you are right Pincantel.Tiago got boxed in twice in the Derby and still kept coming,that won't happen in this short field.

**Seattle Slew** · 06-09-07, 01:25 PM

My initial lean was to CP West with Curlin, but I'm throwing some money on Imawildandcrazyguy. I actually bet him the Fla. Derby at 34-1 and he might have a shot here around 10-1.

So, boxing Curlin, CP West and Imandwildandcrazyguy, with Crazyguy across the board and maybe small WP on CP West.

**picantel** · 06-09-07, 01:39 PM

Ok my bets
$10 tri tiago-HS-Curlin
$10 tri tiago-Curlin-HS
$100 win Tiago
$10 per HS/Curlin-Tiago
$40 per tiago/HS
$30 per tiago/Curlin

I may do a small $2 tri with tiago/curlin-HS/all

**imgv94** · 06-09-07, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by Seattle Slew

My initial lean was to CP West with Curlin, but I'm throwing some money on Imawildandcrazyguy. I actually bet him the Fla. Derby at 34-1 and he might have a shot here around 10-1.

So, boxing Curlin, CP West and Imandwildandcrazyguy, with Crazyguy across the board and maybe small WP on CP West.

He is the forgotten horse in here.. I don't think anyone would be shocked if he won..

**picantel** · 06-09-07, 04:37 PM

Just woke up cause I am sick as a dog now. I think I have food poisoning as my kid got nailed at the same time. Anyway, does anyone now how Teuflesberg did. I put $100 without even looking at the other horses lol just cause he raced against Hard Spun and even beat him and I figure what the hell why not. If he won(not sure cause he was 8-1 ML) then does anyone know the price? thanks

**picantel** · 06-09-07, 04:42 PM

oops never mind duh. Went to belmont's website. Won and paid $18.20. I will take it wooo.

Here are my final belmont bets.

Race #10
$10 DD 1,6/2

Race #11 Belmont
$100 Win 2
$50 per 2/3,6
$10 per 2/1,4,5,7
$2 super 2,6/2,3,6/all/all
$10 per 6/2,3
$10 tri 2/3,6/3,6