2018 Belmont Stakes Preview
History can be made as Justify looks to be the lucky 13th horse to win the Triple Crown, equaling the feat last done by American Pharoah in 2015. Justify proved to be the prototypical mudder winning in the slop in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The weather has been cool and dry this week in New York, but a storm front could pass true on Saturday, once again creating wet conditions.
Gate 1: Justify listed at 4-5 is trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike E. Smith. The whole world will be watching to see if Justify can join the stable of the greatest horses of all-time. Just 12 horses have completed the Triple Crown winning the three biggest races, the Kentucky Debry, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in a five week stretch. American Pharaoh became America’s horse when he ended an almost 40-year drought in 2015. Now an even stronger horse also trained by Bob Baffert can do when better, join Seattle Slew as the only unbeaten horse to win the Triple Crown. The weather is not certain for rain this time around, and he won’t come out of the lucky seventh gate he had in the first two races. The rail could be a problem if Justify gets trapped by the rest of the field, but with the longer mile and half race that may help him from burning out early. Justify is a special horse and will make history in the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes
Gate 2: Free Drop Billy listed at 30-1 is trained Dale Romans and ridden by Robby Albardo. Free Drop Billy running for the first time since finishing 16th at the Kentucky Derby. With just ten horses in the Belmont Stakes he won finish that far back this time, but Free Drop Billy will certainly be bringing up the rear of the field again.
Gate 3: Bravazo is listed at 8-1 is trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Luis Saez. Along with Justify, Bravazo is the only horse that is participating in all three Triple Crown races. After a sixth-place finish at Churchill Downs, Bravazo pressed Justify in the Preakness finishing second in the slop. The horse trained by D. Wayne Lukas could be the biggest obstacle again for Justify reaching history.
Gate 4: Hofburg listed at 9-2 trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Irad Ortiz raced at Churchill Downs, finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby. With just four races, Hofburg is a fresh horse, but the stamina to go a mile and half is somewhat questionable, making this horse a risky pick.
Gate 5: Restoring Hope listed at 30-1 is trained Bob Baffert by and ridden by Florent Geroux. A stablemate of Justify, Restoring Hope does not look to have much actually hope of winning this race. Just a month ago Restoring Hope finished 12th in The Pat Day Mile on the undercard at the Churchill Downs on Debry Saturday.
Gate 6: Gronkowski listed at 12-1 is trained by Chad Bown and ridden by Jose Ortiz. Running for the first time since March, Gronkowski who won four races is the type of fresh horse that often plays the spoiler in the Belmont Stakes. The horse was expected to be in the Kentucky Derby field but had an infection and was unable to run. Fully recovered if Gronkowski is 100% like his namesake he can dominate the field.
Gate 7: Tenfold is listed at 12-1 is trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. Coming off a strong third place finish in the Preakness Stakes, Tenfold is looking to challenge Justify again. I am never a fan of the changing of jockeys, and it is hard to imagine Ricardo Santana Jr. can do better than Victor Espinosa.
Gate 8: Vino Rosso is listed at 8-1 is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez. Returning after skipping the Preakness Stakes, Vino Rosso remains a solid pick. This horse finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby despite coming out of the 18th Gate a difficult run for even the best thoroughbreds. The winner of the Wood Memorial is a strong horse and will certainly make a challenge.
Gate 9: Notable Indy is listed at 30-1 is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Javier Castellano. Notable Indy was not much of a factor in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 17th among 20 horses. I don’t expect to see this horse being a factor in the Belmont Stakes either.
Gate 10: Blended Citizen is listed at 15-1 is trained by Doug O’Neill and ridden by Kyle Frey. Coming off a win in the Peter Pan Stakes, Blended Citizen hopes to rock the world out of the far gate at the Belmont Stakes. A well ridden horse, Blended Citizen rarely finishes in the money, its hard to see that changing on Saturday.
The Tank Trifecta
Win: Justify
Place: Gronkowski
Show: Vino Rosso