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View Full Version : 2014 Belmont Stakes (Final Triple Crown Event) (SETTLED)



Teh One Who Knocks
06-06-2014, 04:04 PM
Medal Count
PP: 1
Odds: 20-1
Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Robby Albarado
Family Tree: Sire: Dynaformer (Roberto); Dam: Brisquette (Unbridled’s Song)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: The popular long-shot pick in the Kentucky Derby was in a good spot and making a run down the stretch until he had to steady hard as Danza swung into his path. Romans was telling everyone who would listen that his horse had a chance at the Derby, and he also has a chance here.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: He is improving with every race and has the type of running style that would suit a winner if the pace-setters fall off. It’s likely he’ll be charging down the lane, and that gives him a shot.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: The pace likely won’t be fast enough for him to make the closing run he needs to win, and no matter how much trouble he encountered in the Derby, he was never catching the winner.

California Chrome
PP: 2
Odds: 3-5
Owner: Steve Coburn and Perry Martin
Trainer: Art Sherman
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Family Tree: Sire: Lucky Pulpit (Pulpit); Dam: Love the Chase (Not for Love)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: He’s racing for history. The Derby and Preakness winner comes into his attempt at the first Triple Crown since 1978 on a six-race win streak, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. The mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes presents the California-bred’s biggest challenge. Many of his rivals in this race have been waiting and resting for another chance to take their best shot at him here, but so far he’s shown he is by far the best of the 3-year-old crop.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: Sherman said immediately after the Preakness that he felt the mile-and-a-half was up his horse’s alley. He is a speed horse that will relax and rate, which is crucial for the marathon run around the Belmont oval. Sherman has also called him a “push-button” horse meaning he can wait to make his run at the right time.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: There’s a reason the Triple Crown has been vacant for 36 years. Every other horse in the field will be ready to give him their best shot, and only 11 other horses in history have been able to win under that pressure.

Matterhorn
PP: 3
Odds: 30-1
Owner: Michael B. Tabor
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Family Tree: Sire: Tapit (Pulpit); Dam: Winter Garden (Roy)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: None

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Pletcher’s second-best entry in this race will get Jersey Joe Bravo aboard. Bravo finished third in the Derby with another Pletcher horse in Danza, and gets now Matterhorn, who is entered in this race based on potential. His performance has been less than impressive in any race of significance.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: Sarava once won the Belmont as a 70-1 shot when War Emblem went for the Triple Crown in 2002. Crazy things tend to happen when 3-year-olds are asked to go a mile-and-a-half, and a victory here would be a crazy thing.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: It’s difficult to see how a fourth-place finish in the Peter Pan Stakes translates to a victory in the Belmont Stakes. He has a closing kick, but it’s likely not enough for this class.
commanding-curve-belmont.JPGDerby runner-up Commanding Curve trains over the Belmont track on Wednesday in preparation for Saturday's Belmont Stakes.Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports

Commanding Curve
PP: 4
Odds: 15-1
Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
Family Tree: Sire: Master Command (A.P. Indy); Dam: Mother (Lion Hearted)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: None

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Second-place finisher in the Derby was the only horse gaining on California Chrome down the stretch, and comes into this race after a sharp work over the Belmont track. Descendant of 1992 Belmont winner A.P. Indy has been able to make strong stretch drives into slow paces in his past two races, and looks to have the breeding that will thrive at this distance.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: He was charging hard down the Churchill stretch in the Derby. He seems to be coming into his best form heading into this race as his speed figures show consistent improvement over his past three races.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: It can be difficult for closers to really dig in for a strong run in the Belmont. By the time they’re ready to make a run for the lead, they’ve already run 1¼ miles and will likely be tired.

Ride On Curlin
PP: 5
Odds: 12-1
Owner: Daniel J Dougherty
Trainer: William Gowan
Jockey: John Velazquez
Family Tree: Sire: Curlin (Smart Strike); Dam: Magical Ride (Storm Cat)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: None

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Preakness runner-up put up a very strong showing in the first two Triple Crown races. He had a troubled trip in the Derby but was still able to make a strong stretch drive, and he ran the race of his life in the Preakness.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: He challenged California Chrome like no horse ever has in the Preakness. Despite hanging a bit in the stretch, he was still gaining as they reached the finish line. The extra distance could help him.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: Despite his best efforts in the Preakness, he couldn’t get past Chrome. It’s possible his best shot has already been fired in the Preakness.

Matuszak
PP: 6
Odds: 30-1
Owner: George J. Prussin
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Mike Smith
Family Tree: Sire: Bernardini (A.P. Indy); Dam: Golden Sonata (Mr. Prospector)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: None

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Mott trainee tried the Maryland path to the Preakness but was done in by Kid Cruz in the Private Terms and Federico Tesio. Smith, who won the Belmont last year with Palace Malice, will look for the repeat aboard this long shot.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: Mott and Smith teamed up to win the 2010 Belmont with Drosselmeyer and perhaps it could happen again. His best speed figures have come in New York, so who knows?

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: He wasn’t able to defeat Kid Cruz, who was outclassed in the Preakness, and that doesn’t bode well for his chances here.
samraat-belmont-stakes.JPGNew-York bred Samraat will try to win the Belmont after finishing 5th in the Kentucky Derby.Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Samraat
PP: 7
Odds: 20-1
Owner: My Meadowview Farm
Trainer: Richard Violette Jr.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Family Tree: Sire: Noble Causeway (Giant’s Causeway); Dam: Little Indian Girl (Indian Charlie)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, Grade 3 Withers Stakes

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: New York-bred winner of the Gotham and Withers is looking to perform again on his home turf. He put in a good run in the Derby as he was the only one to make a run with California Chrome around the turn, but he couldn’t keep up down the stretch on the way to a fifth-place finish.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: There doesn’t appear to be any speed in this race, and he could go to the front early on. If he is able to slow down the pace, he could hold off everyone coming at him and steal the race.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: He’s already been beaten by the favorites in this field even before he reached the Derby. He may have peaked too early as his best form came early in the 3-year-old season.

Commissioner
PP: 8
Odds: 20-1
Owner: Winstar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Family Tree: Sire: A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew); Dam: Flaming Heart (Touch Gold)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: None

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Second-place finisher in the Peter Pan at Belmont on May 10, is the descendant of three Belmont winners. Pletcher trainee, who made his career debut at Monmouth Park, was on the Derby trail before a sixth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby left him without enough points for entry.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: The Peter Pan was a very fast race over a sloppy Belmont track. Although he finished four lengths behind the winner, his speed figures were impressive enough to take notice for this race.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: While he was facing this level of competition on the Derby trail, he proved he was not good enough. The mile-and-a-half also seems to be out of his range as his performance has gotten weaker as the races have gotten longer.

Wicked Strong
PP: 9
Odds: 6-1
Owner: Centennial Farms
Trainer: James Jerkens
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Family Tree: Sire: Hard Spun (Danzig); Dam: Moyne Abbey (Charismatic)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: Grade 1 Wood Memorial

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Impressive winner of the Wood was making a strong run down the stretch before having to change course due to Danza being swung out in front of him. He’s been working well over the Belmont track this week, and has created some buzz that he could be the one to spoil the Triple Crown.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: He seems to be the strongest threat to a Triple Crown. The extra distance shouldn’t be a problem, and his running style with a steady and solid closing kick looks like that of a Belmont winner.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: No matter how well he ran in any of his previous races, it has never been enough to beat California Chrome. He will have to catch Chrome a bit off his game, and he’ll have to be at the top of his game.

General a Rod
PP: 10
Odds: 20-1
Owner: Skychai Racing LLC and Starlight Racing
Trainer: Michael Maker
Jockey: Rosie Napravnik
Family Tree: Sire: Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus); Dam: Dynamite Eyes (Dynaformer)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: None

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Maker decided just this week to bring this son of Roman Ruler to this race. He will likely be just one of three horses to run in all three Triple Crown races along with California Chrome and Ride On Curlin.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: He was forced to check-up behind a tiring Ria Antonia at a crucial point in the Preakness, but was still able to make a strong run down the stretch to finish fourth. If he’s able to get better position, he will be a threat here.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: No matter how much he might be improving, he still hasn’t proven he’s good enough to run past the likes of California Chrome and some of the other top contenders in this race.

Tonalist
PP: 11
Odds: 8-1
Owner: Robert S. Evans
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Family Tree: Sire: Tapit (Pulpit); Dam: Settling Mist (Pleasant Colony)

VICTORIES OF NOTE: Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: After breaking his maiden in January at Gulfstream, this horse hasn’t looked back. His performance in the Peter Pan was extremely impressive, putting the rest of the Triple Crown trail on notice. His front-running style also bodes well for this distance.

CAN WIN BECAUSE: His last race was just as impressive as California Chrome’s performance in the Preakness; Rosario urged him down the backstretch to take the lead, and the rest of the field was never able to gain on him the rest of the way.

CAN’T WIN BECAUSE: This will be a major step up in class for him. He’ll have to prove he can put in the same performance as the Peter Pan on a fast track and at a mile-and-a-half against stronger horses.

Teh One Who Knocks
06-06-2014, 04:08 PM
Horses listed above are by post position and are using the odds set by Belmont.

Teh One Who Knocks
06-06-2014, 04:12 PM
<script height="354px" width="630px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#ec=8wYnEzbjpTtzfstGr7RPAHvslyrBaUj6&pbid=MDYzZmYzZjIwNTA0YjI4Y2YyM2JmNTgw"></script>.

FBD
06-09-2014, 01:57 PM
http://hosted.ap.org/photos/E/ea61f121-b199-4510-b5cf-1934e9b908fb-small.jpg

so when did cali chrome sustain this?

Teh One Who Knocks
06-09-2014, 03:16 PM
http://hosted.ap.org/photos/E/ea61f121-b199-4510-b5cf-1934e9b908fb-small.jpg

so when did cali chrome sustain this?

From their interview on GMA today:


The Coburns also confirmed that their horse was injured shortly after leaving the gate in Saturday’s race.

“He made contact with another horse and he got stepped on really bad on his right front foot and tore some of the foot away,” Coburn said. “It’s going to take probably 10 days to two weeks to heal him up.”