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. 

Format- Horses name, Sire, dam-dam sire, month horse was foaled, and original purchase price.

1) Old Fashioned – Unbridled’s Song – Collect Call By Meadowlake (Jan) ($800,000) Old Fashioned debuts in the number 1 spot this year.  Big strong colt was a runaway winner in last years Remsen (GII) at Aqueduct.  Larry Jones for the third straight year has a quality Kentucky Derby prospect.  Old Fashioned will make his next start in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Presidents day.  He has yet to race at 3, but his win in the Remsen (GII) was a convincing win, in which was not asked for anything in pulling away from an overmatched group.  Has tactical speed, which is a huge asset down the road.  January foal has a physical development edge.  Showed he could rate when coming off the pace to win his maiden race, but looked great when running on the front end.  Talented colt will look to continue to improve.

2) Midshipman – Unbridled’s Song – Fleet Lady By Avenue Of Flags (Mar)  The BC Juvenile (GI)  winner has not been seen since winning that race.  Godolphin purchased him shortly after the win and he was sent to Dubai.  He is also out of Unbridled’s Song.  The word from the desert is he coming along well.  Horses that have trained in Dubai in preparation for the Kentucky Derby have done well, but they also were probably not good enough.  Time will tell if Midshipman will move forward off his championship 2-year-old season.  He has yet to try dirt, but it looks like he will soon. 

3) Pioneerof the Nile – Empire Maker – Star of Goshen By Lord at War (May)  ($290,000) Bob Baffert is back with another Kentucky Derby candidate in Pioneerof The Nile.  He is fresh off his Robert B. Lewis (GII) win, where he came off the pace late to snag the win over the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.  May foal has more time to develop as he moves forward into his 3 year old campaign.  In fact he shares a birthday with Midshipman.  Has 6 races under his belt, which gives him a slight experience edge over some others. Indicating further physical development. through the spring.  Empire Maker has been off to hot start as a sire.  We will see if this guy gets on dirt down the road.  Baffert has sent his horses east in the past for the Wood Memorial.

4) Friesan Fire – A.P. Indy – Bollinger (AUS) By Dehere (Apr) ($725,000) Larry Jones 2nd of two of Derby 12 horses.  Surged in the middle of the track to take Saturdays Risen Star (GIII) at the Fair Grounds.  He has won both his stakes starts at the Fair Grounds.  Has been consistent in winning and will probably target the Louisiana Derby.  Sired by A.P Indy, and his dam sire Dehere was a champion two year old.  Jones has had the ability to keep his 3 year olds in good shape, and bring them up the Derby ready to go.  Time will tell if will be a legitimate factor in May.

5) Stardom Bound – Tapit – My White Corvette By Tarr Road (Apr) ($50,000) An original $50,000 purchase, was resold to IEAH for a whopping 5.7 million dollars.  The big gray filly was the BC Juvenile (GI) winner.  She was dominant as a 2 year old, she came back Sunday to win the Las Virgenes (GII) in her first start as a 3 year old.  No secret that she is being pointed to the Kentucky Derby.  She will target the Santa Anita Derby against colts.  That race will give another indicator how good she is.  Connections purchased Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown last year.  Has yet to run on dirt, and that is always a key factor.  She has done nothing wrong yet. 

6) Vineyard Haven – Lido Palace – Princess Aloha By Aloha Prospector (Mar) The east coasts top two year old was purchased by Godolphin and since has been shipped to Dubai for his training. Has yet to run as a 3 year old.  Connections have indicated either Midshipman or Vineyard Haven will return to the United States.  I have not been able to find out his foal date as of yet. The folks in Dubai have been quiet on his progress, although they say is doing well.

7) The Pamplemousse – Kafwain – Comfort Zone By Rubiano (Apr) ($80,000) The Pamplemousse was an impressive front running winner over the highly touted Square Eddie in the San Rafael (GIII) in January.  He looked sharp in winning and has been forwardly training in California for his next start, which could be in The Santa Anita Derby, but a prep before that is possible.   He has yet to run a dirt track, and it looks like if he makes it to the Derby, it would be his first dirt start.  Always a concern, working well.

8 Mr. Fantasy – E Dubai – Twice Forbidden By Spectacular Bid (May) ($135,000) Mr. Fantasy is the undefeated New York bred owned by West Point Thoroughbreds.  He has won both career starts in smashing style.  His last was an imprsessive winner in an allowance race at Aqueduct where he won in a hand ride stretching out for the first time.  ThoroughbredZone would have put him higher, but there is plenty of time for that if he continues to move forward.  Mr. Fantasy also has some upside being a late May foal.  He should develop along nicely as we get closer to May.  The son of E. Dubai will likely target the Gotham Stakes (GIII) for next start, where he is likely to meet New York bred Haynesfield.  

9) Patena – Seeking The Gold – Handpainted By A.P. Indy  (Feb) ($250,000) Patena has only raced three times in his career, but his second place finish to Friesan Fire in  Lecomte (GIII) was a nice race as he gained on Friesan Fire late.  He was purchased after that race by IEAH who is not shy about going after good young horses.  He is being pointed to the Louisiana Derby.  We will see more of him down the road, and that will give us a better idea of what he is all about.  His breeding certainly indicates a mile and quarter should be with in his grasp.

10) Theregoesjojo – Brahms – Slewie Blues By Seattle Slew ($42,000) Theregoesjojo was an impressive allowance winner over highly impressive maiden Quality Road at Gulfstream Park.  Ken McPeek has been the hottest trainer on the planet as of late and has some good 3 year olds.  Theregoesjojo won that race coming off a layoff.  He showed ability in surging to that allowance victory.  He has yet to win a graded stakes, and that will be the next goal for this one.

11) Quality Road – Elusive Quality – Kobla By Strawberry Road (AUS) (Mar) (Home Bred)  Quality Road was a smashing debut winner over Aqueducts inner track back in November.  He received a big speed figure for the win and was also visually impressive as he drew off.  He has since been sent to Florida where he ran second in his second career start to Theregoesjojo at Gulfstream Park.  He ran a solid race behind the winner as the odds on favorite.  It looks like he will stretch out further in his next start.  Horse has ability and and solid breeding, turf is always possible down the road.  Potential is still there.

12) Haynesfield – Speightstown – Nothing Special By Tejabo (May)  ($100,000) The second of two New York breds to appear on ThoroughbredZone’s Kentucky Derby 12.  Haynesfield won the NY State bred restricted Damon Runynan and the Count Fleet in impressive fashion, opening up when asked.  He is being pointed to the Gotham (GIII) and a match up with that other fast NY Bred Mr. Fantasy.  Haynesfield will see tougher down the road and will have to show he can improve, as the distances get longer.  Haynesfield is another who is a May foal.

Knocking On Door

Charitable Man – Undefeated Shadwell colt who has yet to run at 3,  Taqarub – Speedy Shadwell colt will stretch out in the Fountain of Youth, This Ones For Phil – Huge win last out, will look to keep it going,  Beethoven- Wards goal is the Derby, time will tell if this one is good enough, Well Positioned -  Huge second time out win, disappointed in last, must rebound, Notonthesamepage – Earned huge speed figure last out in the Spectacular Bid , Fountain of Youth next,  Square Eddie- Minor injury will sideline him for 30 days, Danger To Society – Dissapointed in the Hutcheson Stakes (GII),  A.P. Cardinal – Must show improvement