Today is the Belmont. Smarty Jones stands as the first horse in 26 years (affirmed being the last, I believe) to win the triple crown. Since 1976, numerous other horses have won the first two legs and couldn't finish it out. Will Smarty Jones win it all, or miss this one like the others? Also, in a strange happening: if he wins it all in this race, he will become the most lucrative money horse in racing history.
Well the horse is from the Philly area and they are a bit cursed with WINNING a championship in anything right now. I'm going with a No but I'd personally like to see it happen. You don't get too many of those oppurtunities in life.
I'm going to hang myself out in the breeze and pick the exact order. Smarty Jones, Master David, Rock Hard Ten, Purge, Eddington, Royal Assault, Birdstone, Caiman, Tap Dancer I have some weird placings in there but want to go against the known speed favorites for money. SJ, RHT, and P. I'm wondering about Caiman, up from Mexico. He does not appear in class, is there something under wraps about him? or will he come in the back of the pack as his stats indicate? Eddington has been very dependable but does he have stamina to maintain for the distance. RA and BS are also intriguing. Rock HT has a long strided gallop but will his own larger bone/weight wear him out the last 1/4? Plus he's moody and cantankours at times. Needs to have his game face on today and want to play. I will just catch this before I have to be at a wedding. Can't wait. Go Smarty...I just plain want him to win.
There's a 60% chance of rain at Belmont today but it shouldn't bother Smarty - he won the Kentucky Derby on a muddy track (as well as the Arkansas Derby). Purge seems to be the only other horse in the field who has run well in the slop (2nd in the Arkansas), so he may indeed be the primary upset contender, as the odds bear out. Many of the other horses have never run a race in the mud. Looking forward to watching this in HDTV - I just installed a tuner last week!!
I hope he wins, there hasn't been 1 in my lifetime, and I'd really like to see it. I'll be watching. Maybe the Philadelphia curse won't impact him...I hope so. I also hope it afflicts the Eagles again this season, but that's a different thread.
And Birdstone takes the victory. I thought Jones had it but it may seem that he went out too fast. Great Race though!
I thought he had it also, but then he was overtaken...it really was fun to watch though. Its too bad I only care about horseracing if someone has a shot at the triple crown.
