Handicapping the 152nd Belmont Stakes

By Rick Francis —-

What was once the final leg of the Triple Crown and run at a distance that tested true champions is now the first jewel of racing’s Triple Crown and contested at a route many have travelled before; it’ been that kind of year.

Race 10) 1&1/8th Mile. Belmont S. Presented by NYRA Bets PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS. Grade I. Purse $1,000,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS
Post Time: ( 5:42)/ 4:42/ 3:42/ 2:42

4) Modernist – Uncle Mo colt is a 2-time winner at this distance. Winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star stayed on for third in the Louisiana Derby run at a “classic” distance of a mile and three-sixteenths. Conditioned by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, he’ll be firing.

8) Tiz the Law – it’s hard not to like this multiple Grade 1 winner, gets the perfect post, has the tactical speed to put him on the lead or just off of it; work tab shows he’s “chomping on the bit” to go, but how low can you take for the top spot?

6) Fore Left – colt out of Twirling Candy returns from Meydan where he cleared a pricey stakes field in the 2k Guineas; don’t let the shipping issues dissuade you from this one, he’s shipped coast-to-coast before and owns a win here as a juvenile.

5) Farmington Road – Quality Road colt makes his fourth consecutive start at the distance and in his three previous efforts has squared off against formidable company at both Fair Grounds and Oaklawn; worth a serious look.

10) Pneumatic – don’t think the post does this Uncle Mo colt any favors as he wants to be forwardly placed but use too much of his speed earlier than he wants to get there; these connections will never use post as an excuse.

The field for the 152nd Belmont Stakes:

1) Tap it to Win (Casse/Velazquez)
2) Sole Volante (Biancone/Panici)
3) Max Player (Rice/Rosario)
4) Modernist (Mott/Alvarado)
5) Farmington Road (Pletcher/Castellano)
6) Fore Left (O’Neill/Ortiz, J.)
7) Jungle Runner (Asmussen/Gutierrez)
8) Tiz the Law (Tagg/Franco)
9) Dr Post (Pletcher/Ortiz, I.)
10) Pneumatic (Asmussen/Santana)