The Belmont Stakes...the double Bunny

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Noble Indy was NEVER under consideration for the Belmont. Pletcher told ATR Tuesday afterwards that they would look for different kind of opportunities for him.

Should we asterisk Citation? His Calumet stablemate Coaltown (widely considered the crop's 2nd best horse) was 2nd to him in the Derby and not brought back out for Preakness or Belmont?

And for the record comparing 'reduced competition', Justify already beat more horses in the Derby (19) than Citation did in his entire Crown run (15). Five in the Derby; Three in the Preakness; Seven in the Belmont.

Originally Posted by Kasept

And since we're on the topic of 'competition', Citation beat only a TOTAL of 12 different horses in the Triple Crown with 3 of the 15 (Vulcan's Forge, Better Self, Escadru) having run in 2 legs apiece..

Justify has already beaten 23 different horses in 2 legs and if he were to best probable newcomers Blended Citizen, Gronkowski, Restoring Hope and Bandua in the Belmont, the number swells to 27.

So GTFO with the 'reduced competition' nonsense.

Okay, just to be sure I understand your position… Once a horse has beaten a lot of horses in the Derby and Preakness, then it’s fine for the ownership to increase the horse’s chances of winning the TC by not entering a strong competitor they also own, whose trainer is lobbying for entry, and which would otherwise almost surely have been entered. In fact, not only is it “fine”, but for anyone to suggest otherwise is downright contemptible, drawing enough ire that many of us had to run to the Urban Dictionary to understand the insult. I hope I haven't misstated your position.

There’s some irony here. When California Chrome’s owner bitterly complained about how unfair it was that there were no rules restricting which horses could enter the Belmont, he was roundly laughed at. This year we have an ownership that’s actually in a position to exert some control over which other horses will show up to attempt to deny the TC bid. But no one else at Derby Trail seems to find that the least bit troublesome.

WinStar’s president, Elliot Walden, is at least wrestling with the decision, according to this article at Bloodhorse.com: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...n-to-the-track

Audible, who finished a fast-closing third to Justify in the Kentucky Derby, is slated to work at Belmont Park May 25 for trainer Todd Pletcher. After that, Walden said they would have a conversation about the son of Into Mischief 's Belmont status.

"Obviously, you have a Triple Crown on the line, so there are all kinds of factors to it," Walden said of the situation.

WinStar and China Horse Club also co-own graded stakes winner Quip, whom they did start in the Preakness against Justify and watched finish last in the field of eight.

"It's different when you've won two out of three than when you've won one out of three," Walden said. "But at the same time, I do feel like you can't manufacture a Triple Crown. It's either going to happen or it's not. We'll see."

That expression, “manufacture a Triple Crown”, captures my concerns exactly.