6/11 (BEL): Belmont Stakes Probables/Possibles

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by jms62

Punch me in the mouth and hit me over the head with a board and take half my bet if I decide to bet Mucho Macho Man again. At least I'll have half my bet left.

I don't know if I have been brain washed by the tactics of many of today's connections (by babying and over protecting horses), but I really don't understand or see the need for MMM (and for that matter Animal Kingdom/Shackelford) to run at Belmont. Obviously there is no TC at stake, so why run for the 3rd time in 5 weeks? Both horses (AK & Shack) have run big the last 2 races, so why not sit out the Belmont and rest up for the summer campaign?

[HaloWishingwell]

As for Stay Thirsty , did anyone tell Repole that 1 1/2 means the distance of the race and not to complete it in an hour and half time.

[PatCummings]

Master of Hounds worked this morning and is still greenlighted for the Belmont, in what would be his third international ship in 2.5 months.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Master of Hounds worked this morning and is still greenlighted for the Belmont, in what would be his third international ship in 2.5 months.

Why didn't he just stay in the U.S.? I always figured they would give the Belmont Stakes a go.Is it cheaper to fly him back and forth, rather than rent a room?

[tjfla]

What is the max # that can go? 14?

On the brightside of things,the Woody Stephens is gonna look great with The Factor OUT.

[Alan07]

Originally Posted by tjfla

What is the max # that can go? 14?

The Belmont field will be limited to sixteen (16) starters.

Q: Why does the Belmont only payout to first 5 while every other NY stake pays to last?

[tjfla]

Originally Posted by Alan07

The Belmont field will be limited to sixteen (16) starters.

Q: Why does the Belmont only payout to first 5 while every other NY stake pays to last?

THanks for info

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Master of Hounds worked this morning and is still greenlighted for the Belmont, in what would be his third international ship in 2.5 months.

I like this horse in this spot.

[Travis Stone]

Alternation's team is, oddly, deciding to rest rather than run.

http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-stak...est-rather-run

[hockey2315]

Absolutely f@cking stupid.

[NTamm1215]

Just what we need, conservative connections. Who wouldn't take a horse who's completely healthy and leave him in his stall for the next few months?

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Just what we need, conservative connections. Who wouldn't take a horse who's completely healthy and leave him in his stall for the next few months?

Yeah perhaps they are waiting for him to injury himself in training and thn have to lay him up again? Why race a healthy horse in form when you can do whats right by him.. I guess the goal is the Travers and retirement

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Just what we need, conservative connections. Who wouldn't take a horse who's completely healthy and leave him in his stall for the next few months?

I particularly like the way they say they're going to point for races like the Travers instead of the Belmont...as if asking a horse to run in both would be insane. Never mind that a whole lot of Travers winners in recent years (Lemon Drop Kid, Point Given, Medaglia Doro, Ten Most Wanted, Birdstone, Summer Bird, etc) were all Belmont Stakes participants.

Coming in off that Peter Pan performance, the Belmont would seem to come at a perfect time for him. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I don't know if I have been brain washed by the tactics of many of today's connections (by babying and over protecting horses), but I really don't understand or see the need for MMM (and for that matter Animal Kingdom/Shackelford) to run at Belmont. Obviously there is no TC at stake, so why run for the 3rd time in 5 weeks? Both horses (AK & Shack) have run big the last 2 races, so why not sit out the Belmont and rest up for the summer campaign?

if he's healthy, why not? big purse money involved

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

if he's healthy, why not? big purse money involved

In AK and Shack you are talking about horses that had 4 & 5 career starts going into the Derby. Now you are talking about them racing for the 3rd time in 5 weeks. Is it a bit excessive for a young lightly raced horse? I don't know what the right answer is , like I said maybe I have been influenced by the light schedules that many of the older horses have taken over the last couple of years.

As far as the purse goes, there are plenty of big ones in the summer as well.

I guess it might be an interesting poll question. What would you do if you were the owner of AK, Shack or MMM? Would you race for the 3rd time in 5 weeks or would you give your horse a break before prepping for the mid summer derbys and an eventual trip to the BC.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

In AK and Shack you are talking about horses that had 4 & 5 career starts going into the Derby. Now you are talking about them racing for the 3rd time in 5 weeks. Is it a bit excessive for a young lightly raced horse? I don't know what the right answer is , like I said maybe I have been influenced by the light schedules that many of the older horses have taken over the last couple of years.

As far as the purse goes, there are plenty of big ones in the summer as well.

I guess it might be an interesting poll question. What would you do if you were the owner of AK, Shack or MMM? Would you race for the 3rd time in 5 weeks or would you give your horse a break before prepping for the mid summer derbys and an eventual trip to the BC.

If I was an owner, and the horse was eating up and training fine and not losing much weight, I'd run no doubt. I'd run whenever I could if those conditions in the first sentence were met. Shoot, I wouldnt even mind if my trainer actually raced my horse to get it in top shape!

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

In AK and Shack you are talking about horses that had 4 & 5 career starts going into the Derby. Now you are talking about them racing for the 3rd time in 5 weeks. Is it a bit excessive for a young lightly raced horse? I don't know what the right answer is , like I said maybe I have been influenced by the light schedules that many of the older horses have taken over the last couple of years.

As far as the purse goes, there are plenty of big ones in the summer as well.

I guess it might be an interesting poll question. What would you do if you were the owner of AK, Shack or MMM? Would you race for the 3rd time in 5 weeks or would you give your horse a break before prepping for the mid summer derbys and an eventual trip to the BC.

To me, I can see Animal Kingdom with his running style going in the Belmont, Shackleford is a more difficult question, on the one hand I don't see him getting 12 furlongs, on the other hand I think Woody Stevens, who knew a bit about winning the Belmont, use to say it was a speed horse's race. Mucho Macho Man is a younger horse and should not run in the Belmont, he will be much more a factor later in the year. I will look long and hard at Master of Hounds again but his connections are idiots in my opinion...

[Travis Stone]

Didn't Woody Stephens used to say, "If you can get a mile, you can go a mile and a half" or something similar to that..?

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

Didn't Woody Stephens used to say, "If you can get a mile, you can go a mile and a half" or something similar to that..?

Alot of folks are under the impression that closers should dominate the Belmont. Tis not the case.

[Rootdog1]

Funny - same discussion I had with the owner of Shack yesterday. The bottom line, they think he is getting better every day and if healthy it is worth a shot. Although...I know they are looking at specific plans for later in the year which would be fun if it worked out.