There are 5 horses in this race I will use.  The favorites Ice Box, First Dude and Fly Down will be bet.  Can First Dude run that same huge race again three weeks later? He could but the price won’t be anywhere near what he was in the Preakness Stakes.  And can Fly Down bounce back to run another big race in the Belmont after his big Dwyer win?  Another that will be bet, and not offer too much value. Ice Box the late closing 2nd place finisher in the Kentucky Derby should once again show up on the scene late with a late big rally..

5 horses that I will be using are.  Dave in Dixie, Make Music For Me, Interactif, Ice Box and Stately Victor.  I have decided to try and find a nice price in this years Belmont Stakes. The only favorite that I do think has a solid chance to get it done is Ice Box.  He may not win, but should be there late. Statetly Victor is is a bit of a stab.  He has experience and a nice foundation. He could run a nice one. The key with him is he does offer plenty of value. Make Music For Me rallied to Finish 4th in the Kentucky Derby.  This will be his first race on a fast dirt track.  Dave In Dixie has not raced since April 3.  He will be a huge price.  Who knows what could happen at a mile and a half.  At 35/1 I will put him in.  Interactif is the horse I will pick for the upset win.  He has a solid 2-year-old foundation. He has been working well, and connections see fit to give him a shot.  He should stalk First Dude. I would have liked to use Drosselmeyer, but I worry about the possibility of  sore feet. He offers value as well.

Spangled Star, Uptowncharlybrown, Game On Dude and Stay Put will all be prices.  And they will all be value.  Can one of these win?  Anything is possible today.  They each have questions.  Of this group I would give Uptowncharlybrown and Game On Dude some thought.

This is a tough race I feel. I am looking for value. If First Dude wired this group, I would not be shocked at all. He ran super last time. And I liked him last time in the exacta.  I will look for value instead here.  Anyway you look at it, it will be tough to run that same race again three weeks later. And I will make a win play on Interactif to upset the Belmont Stakes. And my upset pick to win the Belmont Stakes is Make Music For Me. Good luck to all.  And have fun betting on this big stakes packed Belmont Card.

Snap Shots of Belmont Stakes Day Coming

The last Yankee game I went to was game 6 of the 96 World Series.  They won the World Series that night.  Today was my first Yankee game since that night–14-years-ago.  And it was in the new ball park.  Below are some snap-shots of the New Yankee Stadium.  It’s a nice ball-park–but the old Stadium can never be replaced.

[View with PicLens]

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Dunkirk

Dunkirk

Mine That Bird

Charitable Man

Fabulous Strike

Fabulous Strike

Fabulous Strike

Strike Beats Benny The Bull

Fabulous Strike

F. Strike In The Winner’s Circle

Two Step Salsa

Benny The Bull

Better Talk Now

Better Talk Now

Cowboy Cal

Gio Ponti

Phil The Power

Munnings

Kensei

Kensei

Kensei

Hull

Hull

Munnings

JV After Win

Alan Garcia & Angel Cordero

Jockey Charity Snap Shot

What You Lookin At ?

Before True North

Jody MacDonald

Which Way?

Back Packed

Before Manhattan

The Hardware

Outside Betting Windows

Before The Manhattan

Summer Bird Wins The Belmont Stakes With A Strong Late Rally To Go Past Mine That Bird And Dunkirk…Dunkirk (ThoroughbredZones’s Pick) Runs A Solid 2nd After Leading Most Of The Way Fighting off Charitable Man Through The Stretch…Charitable Man Weakened In The Final Furlong To Finish 4th…Dunkirk Dug In Along The Rail And Looked Strong…Mine That Bird Made A Strong Rally Around The Bend And Took The Lead In The Stretch Dueling With A Determined Dunkirk… Before Summer Bird Surges  To Go By Both…

*****

Fabulous Strike Was Ready To Roll And Does Going All The Way In A Near Track Record At Belmont Park For 6 Furlongs  In The True North…Benny The Bull Can’t Get Him In His Return Race…Runs 2nd

2009 Belmont Stakes Video

ThoroughbredZone’s top  pick to win the Belmont Stakes is Dunkirk.  Dunkirk looks primed to make a strong bounce back run after his dull Kentucky Derby effort.   And a tremendous amount of respect to Mine That Bird who has every right to be pegged for the top spot in the Belmont Stakes. This is a tough call, and ThoroughbredZone has labored over this for awhile.  I really like MTB and it would be great for the sport, and to see Calvin Borel win all three Triple Crown races would be something else.  Below is a close up of each horse, and how they might do.  And further down are a few ways you might want to play these guys.
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Chocolate Candy: Chocolate Candy is an honest horse who has done all of his best running on a synthetic surface out in California.  He will be running for the first time tomorrow on a fast, dirt surface. (track could still be wet) He has been pointed to the Belmont Stakes since he finished the Kentucky Derby.  Super trainer Jerry Hollendorfer must be respected.  He has put some nice stamina-building works into this horse, and a solid effort is expected.  He was very wide in the Santa Anita Derby and still finished a fast rallying second to Pioneerof the Nile.  His Kentucky Derby race was a poor effort, but that race is throw out, like it’s been for so many other horses.  He will be making his 11th career start and has a good bottom to him.  He is a solid  finisher who should rebound off his Kentucky Derby effort.  User Under

Dunkirk: The Kentucky Derby was a disaster from start to finish.  The race is a complete toss.  The 3.7 million dollar purchase has class, and talent.  ThoroughbredZone covered his debut race back in January.  He ran a powerful race against the top rated and ThoroughbredZone’s #1 Kentucky Derby Prospect Quality Road in the Florida Derby back in March.  He launched a powerful move to hook and pass Quality Road, who was able to dig in and turn Dunkirk back on a very speed-favoring surface.  Dunkirk did gallop out past Quality Road in the Florida Derby, which was a positive sign.  There is no doubt that Quality Road was the best 3-year-old colt in the land at the time.  Connections skipped the Preakness Stakes for the Belmont Stakes.  Dunkirk has had three published workouts since the Kentucky Derby.  He has had two fast breezes, followed by a slower breeze.  And another positive sign is the fact that Todd Pletcher has indicated he has gained some weight since the Kentucky Derby.  He looks sharp and ready to go.  A much-improved effort is expected in the Belmont Stakes.  Top Selection

Mr. Hot Stuff: He had a disaster of trip in the Kentucky Derby.  He has still yet to run on a fast dirt surface.  He has been working well over the Keeneland poly surface.  He ran a good third in the Santa Anita Derby, but still would have to take it up several notches here to be considered a legitimate threat for top prize.  However, he is eligible to improve in his first try on a fast dirt track.  He looks to be a late developer.  User Under

Summer Bird: Summer Bird is a lightly raced colt.  He will add blinkers for the first time in the Belmont Stakes.  He was closing well in the Arkansas Derby at a mile and an eighth at Oaklawn in April.  The Kentucky Derby was a disaster, as it was for so many others.  He would still have to improve a great deal to win.  A strong pace and a late kick will help his cause.  He should be a square price.  10-cent supers will be on the betting menu for the Belmont Stakes, and this horse fits the bill in the fourth spot at a big price. User Under

Luv Gov: He is one of two D. Wayne Lukas colts ready for action.  He should be one of the early pacesetters along with Miner’s Escape.  Luv Gov will me making his 12th career start, but he has yet to run a race that would indicate he could win a race of this magnitude.  Luv Gov will go as far as he can on, or near the lead.  Hanging in there late will be difficult.  Sports a good 6 furlong work since the Preakness Stakes.   Not Using

Charitable Man: The runaway winner of the Peter Pan Stakes last month is clearly the talk of the Belmont Stakes.  Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has exuded confidence in him, stating that he would not change places with anyone.  He will be making his third start off a lengthy layoff.  He is eligible to improve, but ran a strong race in the Peter Pan just a month ago.  He will have to come back and run another strong race to win the Belmont Stakes.  He was behind a hot pace set by Hello Broadway in the Peter Pan, who eventually faded.  Charitable Man looks like he could be on or near the lead in a stalking position.  At some point during the stretch, he should have the lead, but will have to fend off Dunkirk and the hard charging Mine That Bird.  That final furlong could be his undoing.  Talent is there, and the confident connections are a plus.  He is an interesting prospect.  There are a combination of pros and cons with this horse.  User Under

Mine That Bird: The upset Kentucky Derby winner, and hard charging runner-up in the Preakness Stakes is ready to give it another go in the mile and a half Belmont Stakes.  And there is nothing to indicate he will not be ready to make another power packed late run.  He proved his class in the Preakness running behind the best 3-year-old filly in the land Rachel Alexandra.  He is a well-seasoned gelding who raced as a 2-year-old.  Calvin Borel is extremely confident in this horse ability and has already stated he is the winner.  In addition, ThoroughbredZone is confident in his ability.  Mine That Bird is the most likely winner if Dunkirk cannot stay on for the mile and a half.  If he once again comes with that same strong kick, he has shown in his two previous races, he is a huge threat to win two thirds of the Triple Crown.  He has more pros than cons, of any other horse in the race.  Who ever has the lead late will have to fend him off.  Being a May foal, this guy might actually be getting better at this time of year.  Some have indicated he is not a wise win play as a favorite, which is not the wisest way to handle the best horse in the race.   I hope he runs well.  User On Top And Under

Flying Private: The other D. Wayne Lukas entry.  One of only two horses in the Belmont Stakes to run in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.  The other being Mine That Bird.  This horse has been improving throughout the spring.  He had some issues in the stretch of the Preakness Stakes, yet finished strongly to finish fourth.  The Derby was a disaster and a throw out race.  He will be making his 13th start of his career in the Belmont Stakes, making him the most experienced horse in the race.  He also fired off a career best speed figure in the Preakness Stakes.  Another strong rally in the long Belmont Stretch, and he could make an impact.  I feel this horse could pose the biggest upset threat of any horse in the race.  D. Wayne Lukas has had success in the Belmont Stakes with four wins.  Flying Private has all the indications he is ready to run another good race.   User, and If he is better than 10/1…A Saver win bet.

Miner’s Escape:  Miner’s Escape is coming off a front-running win in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico on May 2, 2009.  There is little doubt he will be forwardly placed right out of the gate in the Belmont Stakes, to help set up a late run of Brave Victory, who is by the same owner Robert LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito.  Nick Zito has been the man in recent years with upset wins in the Belmont Stakes, and both of his horses tomorrow will be over bet.  Miner’s Escape will go as far as he can on the front end, and looks to duplicate Da’Tara’s front running Belmont win of a year ago.  To say that for him to go gate to wire in an impossibility might be an over statement, but that is exactly what the plans are with him.  He has a good foundation and you know Nick has had his eyes on the Belmont for a while.  User Under

Brave Victory: The other half of the uncoupled Nick Zito/Robert LaPenta entry.  Brave Victory will be making his fourth start off a layoff, and looks to be cycling to a top effort in the Belmont Stakes.  He has had two nice breezes since his good third place finish to Charitable Man in the Peter Pan Stakes.  Another move forward is more than possible, as Nick Zito has probably mapped out a path to the Belmont Stakes some time ago. A top effort is expected.  Whether that top effort is good enough for the win remains to be seen, but an on the board finish is not out of the question for Nick Zito who knows how to get one ready for the Belmont.  Both of Nick Zito’s horses will probably be over bet considering his recent success in the Belmont Stakes.  User Under

Belmont Stakes Plays

Dunkirk - Top Pick For The Win

Dunkirk-Mine That Bird Exacta Box

Flying Private - Saver Win Bet

10-Cent Supers are on the betting menu, and they offer an opportunity to spread around with some price horses.  So going with the 10-super could very well be a way to go…

2,7 / 1,2,6,7,8,9,10  /1,3,4,8,9,10 / 1,3,4,8,9,10  $28

And a Super Saver Play With Belmont Boys On Top

8,9,10/8,9,10/2,6,7/2,6,7  $3.60

All in all a real blockbuster day of racing at Belmont Park.  6 stakes races.  The True North, Just A Game, Woody Stephens, Acorn, Manhattan and The Belmont Stakes to cap it off.  There is also a 1 million dollar Pick 4 and Pick 6.

Fabulous Strike looks primed in the True North…

We will give some updates at Belmont if there is anything of importance.  Also try to get some tweets from the paddock if any horse in particular stands out.  And an eye will be on Monmouth Park of course. 

Dave Johnson Master of Ceremonies

Maylan Studart

New York Post’s John DaSilva

Karen M. Johnson (Her New Book)

Dave Johnson

Belmont Stakes Super Fan Bill Lynch

These were taken on Tuesday June 2nd.