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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A Large Field Likely for Belmont Stakes 138

For the fourth time in 44 years, it appears the Belmont Stakes on June 10 will be staged without the winner of the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes.

In 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus won at Churchill Downs and ran second to Red Bullet at Pimlico, but neither raced at Belmont. The winner: Commendable. In 1970, Dust Commander triumphed in the Kentucky Derby and Personality took the Preakness, but both skipped the Belmont. High Echelon, third at Louisville, captured the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

One of the most exciting Kentucky Derby contests came in 1962 when Bill Hartack guided Decidedly home ahead of 14 other 3-year-olds. It was one of Hartack’s five victories in America’s Race — he’s tied with Eddie Arcaro for most wins.

After skipping the Kentucky Derby, Greek Money captured the Preakness and Jaipur took the Belmont by a nose. That’s the smallest margin of victory along with Granville in 1936.

Once again winners of the first two Triple Crown legs won’t race in the Belmont, but for different reasons: Derby champ Barbaro is recovering from a life-threatening leg injury in the Preakness while Bernardini will be rested after his impressive victory at Pimlico.

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There Will Be No Bernardini at Belmont Stakes...

Darley Stables has confirmed that 2006 Preakness Stakes winner, Bernardini, won’t be making an appearance in the Belmont Stakes race on June 10, the final leg of US thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.

The decision is another blow for the Belmont, which is already without Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who suffered career-ending and life-threatening injuries in the Preakness on Saturday.

In just his fourth career start, Bernardini pulled away for a 5 1/4-length in the Preakness but was overshadowed by the serious injury to Barbaro, who broke three bones in his right rear leg and underwent six-hour surgery.

The decision to not run Bernardini in the Preakness was made by Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed, who wants the colt to rest. Bernardini could run in the Jim Dandy, Haskell or Travers Stakes in August.

“Given the fact that Bernardini only broke his maiden in March and won a Grade 1 race in May, we feel that he climbed the ladder of competition quite quickly,” said James Bell of Darley Stables. “Having said that, we believe he deserves a break.”

No horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

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2006 Belmont Stakes Set for June 10

It's the 138th running of the Belmont Stakes on June 10, 2006 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, one of the oldest thoroughbred races in North America.

Belmont is the third and final leg of the prestigious Triple Crown Race for top 3-year-old thoroughbreds in America. After the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, and the Preakness at Pimlico, horse racing handicappers, bettors, and fans focus on Belmont.

Get complete Belmont Stakes horse racing picks & betting tips, odds to win the Belmont and the Triple Crown, news on top contenders, jockeys, and trainers. Plus FREE handicapping tips our from racing experts, best horse betting options and hot promos from top online race books on the Internet.

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Breeders' Cup Prep Races at Belmont Park Horse Racing Track

The Belmont Park race track in Elmont, New York, is hosting the 2005 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on October 29, Saturday. Hot on the trail of the all-star thoroughbred championship racing event are Belmont Park's Breeders' Cup prep races starting October 8, Saturday.

Breeders' Cup Prep Races 2005 – Belmont Park Race Track

Saturday, October 8
Champagne Stakes (Gr. I)
Two-Year-Olds
1 mile on the dirt

Saturday, October 8
Frizette Stakes (Gr. I)
Two-Year-Old Fillies
1 mile on the dirt

Belmont Park has the largest dirt race course, at 1.5 miles, of any thoroughbred track in the world. Most known as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the world-famous Triple Crown horse racing, it is fondly known as "Beautiful Belmont Park" for being among the most beautifully landscaped sports venues in America.

Breeders' Cup 2005 is the fourth time in 21 years that the prestigious Breeders' Cup thoroughbred racing is taking place here at Belmont Park. Don't miss Belmont Park horse racing for betting tips, racing picks, and handicapping all eight horse races of the 2005 Breeders' Cup thoroughbred racing championship: the Breeders' Cup Classic, Distaff, Filly & Mare Turf, Juvenile, Juvenile Fillies, Mile, Sprint, and Turf.

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Saint Liam-Commentator Rivalry at Woodward Stakes

The one-two finishers in the Whitney Handicap renew their rivalry Saturday in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park.

Saint Liam breezed six furlongs in 1:16 3/5 last Saturday at Aqueduct and made Richard Dutrow Jr. a happy trainer. "He worked great. I'm very confident. He's doing super."

The historic Grade 1 event is shaping up as a grudge match between Saint Liam and Commentator, wire-to-wire winner of the Whitney at Saratoga.

Dutrow blamed himself for the neck loss. "I should have entered a 'rabbit.' " he said.

Read full story by HorsesWild contributor Greg Melikov

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