Or they just want to come to the party!

Just like the connections of Ruler On Ice, Da Tara, Commendable, Sarava, and Go And Go.

If a hoss likes Belmont, the jump in class isn't a big deal, according to surly

Horses for the courses for sure. As we well know Belmont is not cut out for many horses. I agree in general for ungraded stakes and below but not when you racing against the current top level horse or horses entered in the Belmont.

True, I guess.

Commendable was only like 18/1 or so, and if you toss his KY Derby race, had pretty decent form against better horses than he was facing in the Belmont. Plus, Lukas loves throwing darts like that.

Mubtaahij works 4 times in 11 days? :zz:

http://www.courier-journal.com/story...ahij/28073545/

Well, his trainer is one of the greatest in the world, so I'm sure it makes sense.

Perhaps he's just trying to get a head of steam rolling to level the playing field.

Can someone explain to me why competitive edge isn't going in the Belmont? U guys know more then I do but his last couple of races have looked awfully good to me. Is there a distance limitation? Just don't get it as by my eyes I think he is the best 3yr old tap has. Jmo.

He may be that, but CE will be pointing to either the woody stephens or the met mile. Good move. Pletcher has others seemingly more suited to the longer belmont.

Commendable had failed to hit the board in any of his starts between his debut maiden win at 2 and the his Belmont win at 3 (of course, he never won another race, either).

As far as form against better horses, both Unshaded and Globalize had defeated him in the Lexington and then ran in the Belmont.

sharp post.

Agree, Pletcher is already running 3 (maybe) in the race and all these horses have different owners. As an owner, you don't like to see your trainer enter another horse in a race you are in, especially if it can beat you.

The horse has shown he can run well short and the jump to 1 1/2 mile would be kinda crazy. He got hurt and is behind these horses and there will be plenty of races for him. Woody Stephens is logical.

Out..... Filling in the ankle this morning.

Jay Privman ‏@DRFPrivman 8m:

they're dropping like flies.....remember how Secretariat used to lower his head to go faster ? he was truly amazing. Nothing like a fresh dose of Riva Ridge and Secretariat to an eleven year old kid, to get the juices going for a lifetime. I don't know what I had for lunch yesterday, but watching Secretariat on TV this morning seemed so fresh in my mind.

6/6/15 (BEL): Belmont Stakes

American Pharoah (Baffert/V. Espinoza)
Keen Ice (Romans/Desormeaux)
Mubtaahij (de Kock/I. Ortiz)
Tale of Verve (Stewart/Stevens)
Madefromlucky (Pletcher/Velazquez)
Materiality (Pletcher/Castellano)
Frosted (McLaughlin/Rosario)
Frammento (Zito/Smith)

Value is fading fast.....:mad:

I predicted 7, although one would have to think all of these will give it a go, save a an ailment which nobody wants to see.

The connections of the California based horses have all gone Roberto Duran on this race.

Who is missing? Firing Line and Dortmund both took 2 shots and are spent horses.

Next weekend is the Affirmed Stakes that will have some late bloomers and a couple of reboots. If horses like Kentuckian, Prospect Park, Madiba and Cyrus Alexander had a bit more bottom to them, perhaps one would have pointed to New York.

Jerry Hollendorfer also took over the training of Desert Dynamo, who was being groomed as the next Distinctiv Passion under Jeff Bonde, and promptly stretched him out with great success this weekend. Second dam was the Tartan mare Coup de Fusil, who knocked heads with Personal Ensign, Lady's Secret, Sachauista, etc.

Beyond California, I would have liked to have seen Divining Rod point to the Belmont.

How much bottom do you really need these days? Materiality doesnt strike me as a colt with a lot of bottom and he is 2nd choice. I guess this is his last race for a few months anyways after he gets gutted

Freddy, Materiality has been at the Grade 1 level since March. The horses I mentioned either failed at that level this winter, are just coming out of allowance conditions, or stretching out from sprint distances.

A 12f Classic on the other side of the country isn't an attractive option at the moment.

Materiality's race record is quite similar to another Pletcher-trainee, Dunkirk, who went on the shelf (permanently) after the Belmont. But he did run a strong race to finish 2nd.

Well, yeah, those are the two that I'm referring to.

That was an interesting race the other day by Desert Dynamo. Not sure there was much behind him.

There was once talk about Kentuckian being aimed for the Preakness. That seemed premature to me and I'm glad it worked out the way it did.

I think Kentuckian could be any kind. If he goes long successfully, like I suspect he should, it could make a great matchup should he and AP square off.

I figured. But the comment seemed stale, seeing how the connections of both horses opted out of the Belmont about 5 minutes after the Preakness.

Forest Blue is a very good horse, at least around one turn. Unfortunately, he has been pushed hard, first by facing graded stakes horses a couple of weeks after winning his belated debut, then wheeling right back from there to go two turns. One can't expect him to last too long.

At least he placed in both those races. If they take a more patient approach, he might be a contender for a race like the King's Bishop.

Don't know who did that talking. Must have been the same people who thought it was a good idea to run Forest Music in the BC Juvenile Fillies after her maiden win.

The cryptic "better horse in the crop" than American Pharoah.

Hopefully, if such a matchup takes place, it will developed better than War Emblem versus Came Home showdown in the 2002 Pacific Classic.

Watched that race with a sharp handicapper in NY at Belmont. Dunkirk was very good colt. That guy liked SB and Dunkirk only winner he has ever given to me in the 15 years I know him. lol sort of.. Very similar to Materiality PP wise

As far as Summer Bird being in AP's league.... They dont breathe the same air

He wasn't in Rachel Alexandra's or Zenyatta's leagues either...when he was racing under their ideal conditions. But under his own ideal conditions, in the slop at 10f or more in NY, he was a superior racehorse.

Perhaps a sloppy track will provide the necessary leverage, but anything at 10f or more seems non-ideal for American Pharoah.

I don't know man, his efficiency and conservation of energy in the way he moves should mean he can get that distance.

Of course, I have no idea what his cardiovascular system is like, but the way his momentum is transfered from behind to front is awesome.

has Pletcher announced who is riding Materiality?

I don't subscribe to the DRF's Premium Perplexing Physiological Parameters Past Performances, so I can't use those in my analysis.

But if you are trying to say that American Pharoah is a "pretty mover", I agree.

That doesn't mean he's the mythical perpetual motion machine. Exhaustion will set in, which will probably elicit forced contractions of a different sort than myocardial effort, externally applied by Victor Espinoza.

It probably won't be enough...if the image of American Pharoah moving more vertically than horizontally while struggling to put away the drunk-toddler-on-tricycle-with-missing-wheel-bearing stride of Firing Line in the Kentucky Derby serves any kind of warning.

That one went right over my head.

Velazquez. Castellano on Madefromlucky.

Neither Mohammed JC or the Dalai Lama could get him past 10f's

I dont think their is a 3 yer old colt that can run 12f's fast never mind well

I guess the Belmont is anybody's race then.

How quickly the "super horse" rhetoric is abandoned, once a little clarity begins to set in.

[quote=RolloTomasi;1029463]Who is missing? Firing Line and Dortmund both took 2 shots and are spent horses.



Personally I was hoping Tencendur would come back in the Belmont to take a shot. I saw he was working on the turf and back on the dirt at Belmont a couple of days ago. Anyone hear why he is passing?

thanks, that is what I expected

lol. you my friend are in for a BIG susrprise

I think AP is the best colt I have seen since post steroid era. I am sure some people are still fooling around with steroids and or using them properly when indicated to heal and treat various conditions but guessing the majority of the trainers that compete on biggest circuits have stopped PED steroid use save when inFlorida. I think he looks the part of a true champion and in a few days will see.

I am wrong all the time it never surprises me when I am wrong it surprises me when I am right. I still think AP airs.. I am guess 8 to 10 lengths will be margin of victory. Pretty sure Keen Ice will clunk up for 2nd he is OK

IF AP wins, he is 3 yr old champ and horse of the year, and will NEVER race again, they will retire him, it would be over and done, and the rest of the year will suck, IF he loses, we get to see him race again, against the the best 3 and 4 yr olds that are racing, I would rather he lose and continue to race and prove how great he could or could not be, and make HOY a real horserace........