A Bright Outlook On The Belmont

Essential Quality knows how to win a race. Up next, the 153rd Belmont Stakes!
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Essential Quality, is the favorite to win the 153rd Belmont Stakes.
Essential Quality, is the favorite to win the 153rd Belmont Stakes.

Back to the best in racing. It is time for the third jewel of The Triple Crown! The Belmont Stakes posts this Saturday and I have a bright outlook on the contenders. “The Test Of The Champion” is generally full of surprises and this year will be just as bewildering. I am breaking down all the background and basic information on Belmont’s big race for you.

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Discussing the Derby

Good Magic and Flameaway head for the finsh line in the Blue Grass Stakes!.

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Free Drop Billy romps early in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Free Drop Billy romps early in the Blue Grass Stakes.

What a long strange trip it’s been, this Road to the Kentucky Derby.  Thinking back to last September, how many times have we changed our minds, or might there be a few who had an inkling from foaling season?  I’ve had an fascinating but indecisive path myself however, I have finally come to some determinations.  This is what I know about the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby and I would love to share it with you.

 

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Belmont Bulletin

Senior Investment

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Senior Investment
Senior Investment

Get ready to witness The Run for the Carnations!  This week closes out with The Test of the Champion(s), The Third Jewel of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes!  While there will be no Triple Crown winner this year, the energy in the air is still very electrifying.  Racing fans everywhere can not wait to see who wins the 149th running of the Grade I, Belmont.  Here’s the scoop.

 

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Preakness Perspective

Senior Investment

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Bernardini, Preakness winner
Bernardini, Preakness winner

Here we go, racing fans!  Up next, is the second jewel.  Will we get a Triple Crown winner?  History would predict it is unlikely but the fans know what they want.  The early favorite for the Preakness Stakes is no other than, Always Dreaming, winner of the Kentucky Derby.  Check out his competition here.

 

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Derby Digest

Banners in the silk colors of the 12 Triple Crown Winners

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Secretariat, KY Derby winner, 1973
Secretariat, KY Derby winner 1973, museum wall mural

Welcome to the 143rd consecutive running of the Kentucky Derby!  We have waited a long time to get to this historical moment and the time is upon us this weekend.  Who will win The Run For The Roses?

 

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Covering Claiborne

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The Bluegrass State is getting a big dose of some much needed rain today.  It was not the best weather for touring but I had a great visit to Claiborne Farm, nonetheless.

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Claiborne Farm was established in Paris, KY in 1910 by Arthur B. Hancock.  Over a century later it is still operated by the Hancock’s.  Seth Walker Hancock, Jr. is the 4th generation Hancock horseman and manager.  The farm sprawls across 3,000 acres.  The pamphlet, provided at the tour, states Claiborne has had 22 Racing’s Hall of Fame horses, 63 Champions, 17 Horses of the Year, 22 Kentucky Derby winners, 19 Preakness Stakes winners, 22 Belmont Stakes winners, and 29 Breeders’ Cup winners.  It also pointed out that half of all Triple Crown winning horses have been sired by their stallions.

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Though it has 50 barns my hour long tour just featured a few of those.  The first stallion I was introduced to was OrbOrb is only 6 years old.  He won the Kentucky Derby in 2013.  He was sired by Malibu Moon and his dam is Lady LibertyOrb’s 1st crop were foaled in 2015.  Kevin, the tour guide, held Orb still so I could pet him.  Kevin lives on the farm.  His father and grandfather both worked there too.  He has an abundance of detailed information on the stallions.

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Flatter came out of his stall for a visit.  He was foaled in 1999 and Claiborne was his breeder.  His sire was A.P Indy and his dam was Praise by Mr. ProspectorMr.  Prospector is buried in 1 of the 3 horse cemeteries on the property.  Flatter is the sire of multiple graded stakes winners including Upstart.

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Lea is adorable and loves to savor his peppermints.  He packs them in his gums and sips water to enjoy the flavor.  Lea is a multiple graded stakes winner and is 7 years old.  He is the progeny of First Samurai and Greenery.  This is his first year at stud.

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Blame by Arch and Liable is 10 years old.  In 2010 Blame won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and an Eclipse Award for Champion Older Horse.  His breeder was Claiborne.  He has sired multiple graded stakes winners since 2011.

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War Front is the most expensive stud on the farm.  The son of Danzig and Starry Dreamer was born in 2002 and won multiple graded stakes.  He retired to stud in 2007.  Air Force Blue and Hit It A Bomb are some of his 2015 champion offspring.  I gave a big hug and he stuck his tongue out!  As Twitter’s famous Woodbine Racetrack barn cat, Gator Kitten (@Gatorkitten) would say, he is “to sassys”!

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The tour concluded with a visit to one of the cemeteries.  Secretariat is one of the most well know Thoroughbreds buried there.  He was purchased in 1972 to stand at Claiborne Farm.  His stall is currently empty.  It is waiting for a pretty special stud to come along.

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I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Claiborne Farm.  I hope you like the stallion pictures.  Tours are available 7 days a week for most days of the year.  To arrange your own visit go to Claiborne Farm .  Thanks for reading my story.  Check back soon for more Thoroughbred news and adventures.

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