2006 Belmont Stakes: Bluegrass Cat Leads Field of 12

Kentucky Derby runner-up, Bluegrass Cat, was made the favorite for Saturday’s $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, which drew a field of 12 3-year-olds.

Without Derby winner Barbaro and Preakness (gr. I) winner Bernardini in the race, New York Racing Association oddsmaker Eric Donovan went with trainer Todd Pletcher’s colt as the 3-1 morning-line choice Wednesday for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Pletcher has another Belmont entry, the second favorite Sunriver. Winner of the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park on May 20, Sunriver was at 4-1 odds to win. Steppenwolfer, the third-place Derby finisher, was 9-2.

Bluegrass Cat, who finished 6 1/2 lengths behind Barbaro in the Derby, will leave from the No. 9 post in the 1 1/2-mile race. The colt will be ridden by John Velazquez, who returned last week after being sidelined since April 20 with a cracked shoulder blade and bruised ribs. Sunriver, with Rafael Bejarano aboard, drew the No. 2 post.

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2006 Belmont Stakes, Belmont Odds, Belmont Picks, Belmont Tips, Belmont Results, Belmont Winners

Belmont Stakes Handicapping Tips

By GREG MELIKOV

Some so-called experts say handicapping the Belmont Stakes is the easiest of the Triple Crown races, pointing to the high percentage of winning favorites.

Since 1940, a dozen of 30 odds-on choices won, but the last to do so was ‘78 Triple Crown winner Affirmed. However, during the past 27 years, six post-time favorites lived up to their odds.

That doesn’t mean there has been a scarcity of price horses. In the last 44 years, seven of the highest 10 win payoffs rewarded horseplayers. The largest was in ‘02 when Sarava, with Edgar Prado aboard, returned $142.50.

Prado also rode Birdstone to an upset $74 victory in ‘04, ending Smarty Jones‘ bid for the Triple Crown. He would have been aboard Barbaro if the Kentucky Derby champion hadn’t suffered a career-ending leg injury in the Preakness.

He’s riding in the Belmont after accepting the mount on Deputy Glitters from trainer Tom Albertrani, who saddled Preakness winner Bernardini being pointed toward the top 3-year-old stakes later this summer.

Deputy Glitters has performed dismally since a convincing victory at Tampa Bay Downs. He finished sixth in the Wood Memorial and eighth in the Kentucky Derby.

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2006 Belmont Stakes, Belmont Odds, Belmont Picks, Belmont Tips, Belmont Results, Belmont Winners