Handicapping: The 158th Belmont Stakes

By Rick Francis —-

A field of nine 3-year-olds will go to post for the 158th edition of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. Once again the contest will be held at beautiful Saratoga Race Course and once agin the race will be run at the “classic’ distance of one and one quarter mile.
Racing’s third leg of the Triple Crown features a rematch of the Kentucky Derby’s top two finisher’s in Golden Tempo and Renegade piloted by the Ortiz Brothers Jose and Irad making for a memorable and classic showdown. Let’s take a look at the field. Good Luck to all.

Race 13) Grade 1 Belmont Stakes 3yo 1&1/4 Mile Post Time 7:04 EDT1) Vitruvian Man (O’Neill/Fresu); maiden winner outclassed here; pass.

2) Powershift (Pletcher/Saez); Constitution colt exits his maiden score for dangerous connections; this one will try to steal this upfront possibly setting up stablemate.

3) Chief Wallabee (Mott/Alvarado); the “Wise-Guys” play also out of Conctitution has shown a solid late kick however coming up just short in last three including a game fourth in Derby; can’t ignore in exotics.

4) Renegade (Pletcher/Ortiz, I. Jr); accosted breaking from the dreaded one hole in the Derby, son of Into Mischief ralied to close within a head. He can come from anywhere to win this; if you liked him facing 19 rivals you’ll love him facing nine. The Pick!

5) Ottinho (Brown’Davis); Quality Road colt enters off a pair of board finishes, both a country mile back; Pass.

6) Growth Equity (Brown/Franco); Nyquist colt has done what he needed to do to earn this starting spot, however the competition he face to book this start was questionable at best, Pass.

7) Commandment (Cox/Velazquez); the first reat threat to the top two. Out of Into Mischief, colt had won four straight heading into the Derby, where as they all were, he was “jostled”, but that’s not why he finishd seventh, distance was and will be again today; bottom of tri’s.

8) Emerging Market (Brown/Prat); lighly race son of Candy Ride was overwhelmed in Derby but as with most of this bunch he won’t be distance compromised; legit win threat.

9) Golden Tempo (DeVaux/Ortiz, J); when Curlin colt was a closing third in La. Derby I knew the “Run for the Roses” route was right up his alley, it’s what Curlin’s are bred for. Jose won’t have to look over his shoulder for the threat and it’ll take a notch more to best his brother again.

The Picks: 4, 9, 8, 7