Afleet Alex Comes Out of Triple Crown as Top 3-year-old

Afleet Alex did not disappoint his fans by winning the 137th Belmont Stakes, the dramatic final leg of the Triple Crown, by seven lengths at 2:28.75.

"He's a beast, he's a freak of nature, he's made out of steel. He's the best three-year-old in the country," winning jockey Jeremy Rose enthuses after their victory at Belmont Park on June 11th.

Belmont is Afleet Alex's eighth win in 12 starts, earned $600,000 from the $1 million purse and boosted his bankroll to $2,765,800. Aside from his earnings, the Tim Ritchey-trained colt also officially claims the title of horse racing's top three year old of 2005.

Thus, he will be the clear favorite when he enters his next races in the coming months. He is now being pointed to the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 7 for his next start, then on Aug. 27 at Travers at Saratoga, and the Oct. 1 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. Still after that, Afleet Alex would be pointed to the Breeders' Cup, and Ritchey sees more races as a 4 year old.

Afleet Alex also helped raise funds for Alex's Lemonade Stand, a charity started by an 8-year-old cancer stricken girl, Alex Scott. In the Belmont race alone, the lemonade stand was able to raise $140,000. Afleet's owner, Cash Is King Stable have donated over $100,000 and the Afleet Alex connetion was able to gather another $100,000 for the foundation. All proceeds will go to the pediatric cancer research funds.

For more news and info on Afleet Alex, check out Horses Wild where you will find horse racing betting tips, picks, and odds. With accurate handicapping of the coming races.

Plus see pictures and photos of Afleet Alex and other 2005 Belmont Stakes highlights in the gallery section.

Afleet Alex, winner of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, and the top 3- year old of the 2005 Triple Crown season.

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Belmont Newcomers To Challenge Afleet Alex-Giacomo Show

Afleet Alex and Giacomo, winners of the first two legs of the Triple Crown, headline the $1 million 2005 Belmont Stakes race on Saturday, June 11.

After Giacomo captured the Kentucky Derby as a 50-1 longshot, Afleet Alex overcame a near disaster to win the Preakness Stakes on May 21. Afleet Alex has been given more respect here and been tabbed as the overwhelming 6-5 favorite in the 1 1/2-mile race. Giacomo, third in the Preakness, is the second choice at 4-1.

This year's race marks the first time in four years that the Belmont will be run without the Triple Crown on the line. Afleet Alex is also trying to become the 18th horse to complete the Preakness-Belmont double.

But Belmont is more than just an Afleet Alex-Giacomo show. Nine other horses are out to grab the last Triple Crown race. Horses who are fresh in the race and have not gone through the rigorous workouts and edmanding races as the two contenders.

Plus the 1 1/2 distance of Belmont is a real concern.

Here are the complete Belmont starters' post position -- with jockeys, trainers, and odds:

1. Nolan's Cat - Norberto Arroyo, Dale Romans, 50-1
2. Pinpoint -- John Vasquez, Nick Zito, 20-1
3. AP Arrow -- Jerry Bailey, D. Wayne Lukas, 20-1
4. Southern Africa -- John Court, Michael Puhich, 12-1
5.Giacomo - MIke Smith, John Shireffs, 4-1
6. Watchmon -- Javier Castellano, Patrick Reynolds, 50-1
7. Andromeda's Hero -- Rafael Bejarano, Nick Zito, 15-1
8. Reverberate -- Jose Santos, Sal Russo, 6-1
9. Afleet Alex -- Jeremy Rose, Tim Ritchey, 6-5
10.Indy Storm -- Edgar Prado, Nick Zito, 20-1
11.Checov -- Gary Stevens, Patrick Biancone, 12-1

For more 2005 Belmont Stakes contenders profile and extensive coverage, check out Horses Wild's Belmont Page. Also horse racing tips, picks, and odds check out Belmont Stakes Odds, Belmont Stakes Betting, and Belmont Stakes Picks.


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A Preliminary Look at the Belmont Stakes Contenders

Posted by SLICK at HorsesWild Belmont Stakes Handicapping Forum:

From what I can see from the entries in this year’s Belmont Stakes, there doesn’t seem to be very much respect for either the Derby or Preakness winners.

For example:
Why would Lukas enter AP Arrow a horse that just broke its maiden? Does he know something about the weather for Saturday that we don’t? Maybe it’ll run as good as Chekhov did in the Peter Pan after it broke its maiden in a prior race! Then there’s Nolan’s Cat. Yep, still a maiden, but what the hell he only finished 1/2 a length behind AP Arrow. So I guess its trainer is thinking along the same lines as Lukas. Of these (3) I think only Chekhov has an opportunity to improve off its last race.

Then there’s the Zito trio. I’m throwing all of them out.
Andromeda’s Hero hasn’t shown a thing either on the racetrack or in the morning trials. No improvement expected. Indy’s Storm has terrific breeding and a similar running style to Afleet Alex, but is nowhere near as fast. Finally there’s Pinpoint who has really improved with the addition of blinkers in its last (3) races. Winning each one by getting to the front and holding on each time. This horse may attempt the same tactics in the Belmont, but after trying to run with Reverberate for 3/4's of a mile, I don’t expect to see it in the hunt after 1 & 1/2 miles.

So who’s left?
Afleet Alex, Giacomo, Southern Africa, Watchmon, and Reverberate.
Read what SLICK has to say about Afleet Alex, Giacomo, Watchmon, Southern Africa, and Reverberate.


For more 2005 Belmont Stakes contenders profile and extensive coverage, check out Horses Wild's Belmont Page. Also horse racing tips, picks, and odds check out Belmont Stakes Odds, Belmont Stakes Betting, and Belmont Stakes Picks.


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2005 Belmont Stakes Possible Starters Cut to 11

Afleet Alex arrives at Belmont on Saturday to begin preparing for the 137th Belmont Stakes, the last leg of the 2005 Triple Crown Season.

Afleet's Triple Crown rival and Kentucky Derby winner, Giacomo, will arrive on Wednesday and continues with training at Hollywood Park.

Scrappy T has been ruled out of the $1 million race, trainer Robert Bailes said the main concern is the 1 1/2 mile distance of Belmont. "I wasn't 100 percent confident [with] him going that distance and what it was going to take out of him," Bailes said. "Better safe than sorry."

Meanwhile, newly-elected racing Hall of Famer Nick Zito will have three entries for the June 11 race: Andromeda's Hero (Derby 8th placer), Pinpoint (Sir Barton winner), and Indy Storm.

There are 11 possible starters for Belmont:

AP Arrow
Afleet Alex
Andromeda's Hero
Checov
Giacomo
Indy Storm
Nolan's Cat
Pinpoint
Reverberate
Southern Africa
Watchmon

Post positions will be drawn at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Garden Terrace dining room on the fourth floor at Belmont Park.

For complete 2005 Belmont Stakes contenders profile check out Horses Wild's Belmont Page. For horse racing tips, picks, and odds check out our coverage at Belmont Stakes Odds, Belmont Stakes Betting, and Belmont Stakes Picks.

Belmont, Belmont Stakes, Belmont 2005