Horses headed to the Belmont Stakes don’t exactly exude class. Seven likely starters are seeking their second stakes win.
The seven ran in 27 stakes since January. However, eight of the likely 10-horse field never ran in juvenile stakes. For both years, the total record: 7-5-4 in 32 outings.
Looking back over the past decade, four of six winners went into the Belmont with at least two triumphs, including a pair that had five each despite losing in the Kentucky Derby.
Afleet Alex, third in the 2005 Derby, won twice as a 2-year-old and three times in sophomore stakes, including the Preakness. Point Given, fifth in the ’01 Derby, was victorious once in juvenile stakes and four times as a 3-year-old, including the Preakness.
It was no accident they both were the only favorites to live up to their odds the past 10 years.
This year’s Preakness winner, Lookin at Lucky, is sitting out the Belmont as is Derby champ Super Saver. That assures a different winner in Triple Crown races for the 14th times since ’80.
Rags to Riches won three times in ’07 stakes against fillies before capturing the Belmont. Empire Maker won twice in ’03, including the Derby.
Horses that skipped the first, second or both those legs of the Triple Crown the past decade triumphed eight times – the same number that sat out only the Preakness.
Nine horses in this year’s Belmont didn’t run in the Preakness. Only First Dude, runner-up at Pimlico and third in three ’10 stakes, is in the hunt.
The seven ran in 27 stakes since January. However, eight of the likely 10-horse field never ran in juvenile stakes. For both years, the total record: 7-5-4 in 32 outings.
Looking back over the past decade, four of six winners went into the Belmont with at least two triumphs, including a pair that had five each despite losing in the Kentucky Derby.
Afleet Alex, third in the 2005 Derby, won twice as a 2-year-old and three times in sophomore stakes, including the Preakness. Point Given, fifth in the ’01 Derby, was victorious once in juvenile stakes and four times as a 3-year-old, including the Preakness.
It was no accident they both were the only favorites to live up to their odds the past 10 years.
This year’s Preakness winner, Lookin at Lucky, is sitting out the Belmont as is Derby champ Super Saver. That assures a different winner in Triple Crown races for the 14th times since ’80.
Rags to Riches won three times in ’07 stakes against fillies before capturing the Belmont. Empire Maker won twice in ’03, including the Derby.
Horses that skipped the first, second or both those legs of the Triple Crown the past decade triumphed eight times – the same number that sat out only the Preakness.
Nine horses in this year’s Belmont didn’t run in the Preakness. Only First Dude, runner-up at Pimlico and third in three ’10 stakes, is in the hunt.