It seems like everyone has their own opinion on this year’s Belmont Stakes and I could not be happier to read and learn about all of the varied perspectives on this race. There is a wealth of information available if you have the time or the interest. For those craving a refresher or the simple facts ahead of this weekend’s race, here are the basics of the Belmont Stakes.
This will be the 150th edition of the Belmont Stakes. The race is the third leg of the Triple Crown following the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. The Belmont Stakes was inaugurated in 1867. It has always been held in New York but not always at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York as it is now. The race is a 1.5 mile (12 furlongs) dirt race for 3 year-old Thoroughbreds. In modern times it is more rare for fillies to compete though allowed, in fact the first winner was a filly, Ruthless. There are no fillies this year. The Belmont Stakes is named for August Belmont who funded and founded the first edition of the race. It is a Grade 1 stakes with a purse of $1.5 million dollars. Secretariat was the fastest winner at a time of 2 minutes and 24 seconds (2:24), having the fastest fractions throughout the race and finished by 31 lengths, the longest distance ahead.
The Belmont Stakes is referred to as The Test of the Champions. It is the longest of the Triple Crown series. The KY Derby is 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) while the Preakness Stakes is 1 and 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs). The Belmont may also be called The Run for the Carnations. The traditional flower is the white carnation. Hundreds are fashioned into a blanket to drape over the winning horse. The song is the “Theme from New York, New York.” The trophy is silver and produced by Tiffany and Company. It is the August Belmont Trophy. The Belmont Jewel is the drink of choice. Mix it using 1.5 ounces of bourbon, 2 ounces of lemonade and 1 ounce of pomegranate juice, shaken with ice. I recommend cheesecake for desert. Check out my next post for the easy recipe with Chef Horseradish.
This year we may get a Triple Crown winner. 23 horses have won the first 2 legs but not the Belmont. 12 have won it all. Justify has already won the first 2 jewels in the crown and his recent workouts are making people very confident that he may be the lucky 13th Thoroughbred to sweep the series. The 12 champions that have won the Triple Crown are:
- Sir Barton 1919
- Gallant Fox 1930
- Omaha 1935
- War Admiral 1937
- Whirlaway 1941
- Count Fleet 1943
- Assault 1946
- Citation 1948
- Secretariat 1973
- Seattle Slew 1977
- Affirmed 1978
- American Pharoah 2015
In the case of a Triple Crown win there will be a brand new trophy. Since 1950 Cartier has made the Triple Crown trophy that was even issued to retrospective winners but following American Pharoah’s win, a new trophy was designed by Robert Santo. This trophy has yet to be earned. It is nearly 3 feet tall and will be traveling throughout America’s racetracks.
On Saturday 6/9/18 at 6:46 P.M. ET the Belmont Stakes will post. It is the 11th race on a card of lucky 13. NBC Sports Network will televise the undercard from 2 to 4 P.M. ET and then NBC from 4-7 P.M. ET. The first race posts at 11:35 A.M. ET and the last at 8:07 P.M. ET. In the Belmont Stakes, 10 contenders will face off as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds:
- Justify/Mike E. Smith/Bob Baffert/China Horse Club International, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm/4-5
- Free Drop Billy/Robby Albarado/Dale L. Romans/Albaugh Family Stables,LLC./30-1
- Bravazo/Luiz Saez/D. Wayne Lukas/Calumet Farm/8-1
- Hofburg/Irad Ortiz, Jr./William I. Mott/Juddmonte Farms. Inc./9-2
- Restoring Hope/Florent Geroux/Bob Baffert/Gary and Mary West/30-1
- Gronkowski/Jose L. Ortiz/Chad C. Brown/Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited/30-1
- Tenfold/Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC./12-1
- Vino Rosso/John R. Velazquez/Todd A. Pletcher/Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/8-1
- Noble Indy/Javier Castellano/Todd A. Pletcher/WiStar Farm, LLC. and Repole Stable/30-1
- Blended Citizen/Kyle Frey/Doug F. O’Neill/Greg Hall and Sayjay Racing, LLC./15-1
Justify (Scat Daddy, sire – Stage Magic, dam): Justify is undefeated, he has 5 starts, thus 5 wins, 0 second place finishes and 0 third place finishes, read (5:5-0-0). This KY bred won his maiden, an allowance and then a Grade I stakes in California before romping in the first 2 legs of the Triple Crown. His connections, Baffert, Smith and WinStar all know what is like to win the Belmont Stakes.
Free Drop Billy ( Union Rags – Trensa) : (9:2-3-2) He was my favorite for the KY Derby after doing well twice at my home track, Keeneland. He has raced 3 times in New York, with his KY breeding. I regretted his 16th place finish in the KY Derby. I wish him a better race this time. He did not race in the Preakness. There are no Belmont Stakes wins for his connections.
Bravazo (Awesome Again – Tiz O’ Gold) : (10:3-2-1) This horse has plenty of experience at multiple race tracks. He is KY bred but he got his start in New York. After a 6th place finish in the KY Derby he was a close second place finisher in the Preakness. Lukas and Calumet each have Belmont wins. Lukas is my favorite trainer.
Hofburg (Tapit – Soothing Touch) : (4:1-1-0) There has been plenty of talk about how a Tapit bred can pull a Belmont Stakes upset, he sired 3 out of the 4 last Belmont Stakes winners. After a 7th place finish in the KY Derby Hofburg did not compete in the Belmont. This KY bred colt did get his start in New York. Irad Ortiz, Jr. , Mott and Juddmonte Farms have all won the Belmont Stakes in the past.
Restoring Hope ( Giant’s Causeway – Symbol of Freedom): (5:1-1-2) This horse has not raced in any of the Triple Crown series or any Grade 1 stakes. After breaking his maiden in his third start he finished 3rd and 12th in graded stakes. He is KY bred and this is his first NY race. He is another Baffert trained Thoroughbred.
Gronkowski (Lonhro – Four Sugars): (6:4-1-0) This KY bred horse has yet to race in America. He was set to race in the KY Derby when he was sidelined by an infection. His jockey, Jose Ortiz, won the Belmont Stakes last year.
Tenfold (Curlin – Temptress): (4:20-1) This lightly raced horse did not compete in the KY Derby but had a nice finish in third place in the Preakness. Tenfold has not raced in NY. He was bred in KY and spent all his time at Oaklawn Park before racing into the spotlight of the Preakness. Asmussen has won the Belmont Stakes in the past.
Vino Rosso ( Curlin– Mythical Bride): (6:3-0-1) This is a 2 time winner in NY , including the Wood Memorial Stakes. He finished 9th in the KY Derby and then skipped the Preakness. He is KY bred and has raced at 3 tracks in 3 states. His jockey, Velazquez, has won past Belmont Stakes and his trainer, Pletcher, won last year.
Noble Indy ( Take Charge Indy – Noble Maz): (5:3-0-1) He has a nice record but was 17th in the KY Derby and then skipped the Preakness. He is another KY bred colt that has yet to race in NY despite starts at 3 tracks in 3 states. He shares trainer, Pletcher, and owner WinStar who both have won the Belmont Stakes.
Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen – Langara Lass) : (10:3-0-2) I’ve seen this KY bred race at Keeneland but he is a winner in a graded stakes right at Belmont Park. In his last start he won the GIII Peter Pan. Blended Citizen did not take on the first 2 legs of the Triple Crown series. His connections have yet to win a Belmont Stakes.
Congratulations to all the contenders, their connections and the fans who get to attend the historic 150th edition of the Belmont Stakes. I hope everyone finds a way to enjoy this special day of racing. The prospect of a new Triple Crown winner leaves me quite enthused. I hope you gathered something from the basics of the Belmont. Check out my story on the 4th race on Belmont Stakes Day, the Acorn, already posted and my Chef Horseradish post from the kitchen soon to follow.
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