Bodemeister, Paynter and Union Rags: A Rivalry?

With the curtains drawn on the brief but bright racing career of I'll Have Another, the late 3 year old season is marred by questions. Who, if anyone, can play the role of 3 year old champ? Will one colt break through as a clear-cut hero -- or will the Eclipse honors fall to the chestnut victor of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness? In order to steal the role of 3 year old champion, one horse must win all of the big, late-year races. 

An emerging talent wouldn't make the cut. To be acknowledged at higher status than a 2 time classic winner, the horse in question must have previously shined as some sort of early star. That rules out nearly all the crop as potential thieves of 'Another's prize. Three colts, however, remain in contention. Bodemeister (second in both the Derby and Preakness), Paynter (second in the Belmont), and Union Rags (Belmont winner).

Union Rags (far right) reaches out to snatch the Belmont

There's a big possibility of seeing these three match up in later races. Bodemeister is being pointed toward the Haskell Invitational (July 29, Monmouth Park), and Paynter is being lined up for the Jim Dandy (July 28, Saratoga). Micheal Matz has named Union Rags a possibility for either race, with the ultimate goal being the Travers Stakes (August 25, Saratoga). 

It will be extremely interesting to observe the result of late-season 2012. If Union Rags, Paynter and Bodemeister are to have a match-up, the result may be something out of this world. All three colts are proven fighters, and it's scary to think that we may be yet to see the best of late-developing Paynter. Bodemeister did appear to tire near the end of the Kentucky Derby, but with a different running style - or at shorter distances - he could blow fields apart. Union Rags displayed grit and bravery in his rail-riding surge at Belmont Park; many speculate how much faster the race could've been had he drawn an outside post position, and not have had to sit and wait.

Who's the best of the three horses? My own money is on Union Rags, who I believe to have always been the best of the crop. Who do you like? Leave a comment and tell me!

Terribly Great 2's: Amarish

While colts and fillies fetch glossy prices, it is not often that you see a 2 year old gelding sold for $200,000. But that's exactly the price owner Jerry Durante paid for the precocious Amarish, at the Ocala Breeders' March Juvenile Sale. With a red X through any breeding aspirations, the bay was purchased with races in mind; races like the 5 1/2 furlong, $100,000 William Proctor Memorial... which today, Amarish won.

Having triumphed by 7 lengths in his lone career start in a time just fractions off the Hollywood Park track record for 4 1/2 furlongs, Amarish was sent off as the clear-cut favorite. As the gelding paraded the grounds of his initial victory, heads nodded... he looked the part.

Amarish was fitted into slot 6, and the gates burst open. The rest was routine; the gelding wrestled the restraint of jockey Edwin Maldonado, who pinned him snugly in stalking position up until the turn, where he  smiled and waved goodbye to the six unworthy rivals. Amarish burst away from the field - and if a horse could grin, he would've. The gelding remained undefeated in a 5 length romp.

As an avid follower of the 2 year old division, I am licking my lips in anticipation for whatever this kid may bring. His pedigree, while weak on the sire line, shows some promise on the maternal side.

Amarish's sire, Scat Daddy, flourished with limited ground to cover. He placed 18th in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, following victory in the 1 1/8 mile Florida Derby. Two sons of Scat Daddy, Daddy Long Legs and Daddy Nose Best, raced in this year's Kentucky Derby. They, too, showed a need for less track, finishing a dull 10th and 20th. Amarish's grandsire, Johannesburg, is known for being a sprint influence. He himself placed 8th in the 2002 Kentucky Derby. Johannesburg is sired by Hennessy, who won 4 of his first 5 starts before failing to triumph again.

Amarish's broodmare sire, however, is the great Awesome Again: a 10 furlong winner on multiple occasions, including the Breeders' Cup Classic. Awesome Again is sired by Deputy Minister, an "awesome" distance influence. Deputy Minister is the damsire of Belmont winners Jazil, Sarava, and Rags to Riches; he is also the sire of Mane Minister, Go For Wand, and Touch Gold, among other champions.

Although his capability of stretching out is certainly a debatable topic, I tout Amarish as one of the top 2 year olds to be eyeing in the coming months of 2012. Whether or not he can go the distance, this gelding is sure to provide thrills, chills, and a bottle full of hope!

Giant Ryan: Racing For His Life

As the field powered home in the True North Handicap, 85,000 spectators shared a breathless gasp. While Repole Stable's Caixa Eletronica charged to gain a narrow lead, a bay 6 year old by the name of Giant Ryan was being wrestled down from a lilting gallop. A few, choppy strides and the winner of the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes was splayed out on the dirt oval of Belmont Park. The equine ambulance rushed to the scene; black curtains were stationed around the fallen warrior, shielding him from a horrified Belmont Stakes crowd.

The horse heaved to his hooves and was fitted with a splint; after a van ride back to his stall, the verdict was that Giant Ryan had fractured both left front sesamoids and suffered ligament damage to the back of the same ankle. His owner and trainer, the father-son team of Bisnath and Shivananda Parboo, were appalled. Only a week before the race, Ryan had galloped a tidy four furlongs in 49 flat; the fourth fastest work of sixteen at the distance. No one would have suspected that this same horse would go on to collapse while battling for the lead.

In the following days, Ryan was shipped to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center: the same facility that treated Barbaro in the months following his breakdown. In order for Giant Ryan to carry on to a career at stud, a procedure is planned to fuse the fetlock joint back together.

These plans were delayed, however, when the injured leg was found to be receiving limited blood flow.



"Treatment is being given in effort to restore the blood supply so that the fusion surgery can be safely performed at a later date," Said Dr. Richardson, chief of large animal surgery at New Bolton. "He is comfortable and stable, but we will need to do further tests assessing his injured limb before we proceed with any surgery."

This is a blow beneath the belt for all fans of horse racing. When any one of our equine athletes is injured, we must work to the best of our abilities to preserve their life and future. Teams like Shivananda Racing are an asset to the industry; with the extensive treatment Giant Ryan is being given, it is clear that his connections truly care about their runners. The future is not clear for of this hard-trying horse. I, along with thousands of horse lovers around the world, will be praying for the well-being of the valiant Giant Ryan. He has served racing to the best of his abilities, and it is my hope that he may go on to be a sire of sires in the Thoroughbred breed.

Saying Goodbye to the 2012 Triple Crown

A mere two days ago, it was a one horse show. A single, valiant colt had conquered both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. The mile and a half Belmont Stakes loomed dauntingly ahead; the tallest hurdle for these 3 year olds to clear. A whole nation sat on the edge of its seat, anxiously awaiting the 2 minute event that would draw to conclusion 5 weeks of dreaming. Could I'll Have Another win the Triple Crown? As goes the tootsie pop slogan, the world will never know.

The morning before the Belmont Stakes, champion I'll Have Another was discovered to possess the beginning stages of tendinitis. Despaired, his connections opted to not only scratch the colt from the G1 Belmont Stakes, but to retire him from racing altogether. While the majority of racing fans have doffed their hats in unanimous respect for the decision - which put the horse's welfare in its rightful #1 place - nothing could bar the flood of disappointment that engulfed the scene at Belmont Park. The attendance, which was expected to surpass 100,000, was down to a (still very impressive) count of 85,811. But regardless, the race went on -- the result being a thrilling stretch duel that none will be quick to forget.

Union Rags, a 17 hand son of "sprint producing" Dixie Union, sat in the wake of front running Paynter deep into the grueling, Belmont stretch. His jockey, John Velazquez, sat waiting in Mike Smith's blind spot for the perfect striking moment -- a moment delivered when jockey Mike Smith switched to the left handed whip, causing Paynter to swing ever so slightly to the right. It was Union Rags who did the rest, surging past his rival and his legion of doubters to pose just in time for an elegant photo; one in which the big, bay wonder resides on the right side of the wire.

Union Rags stretches out his neck to capture the Belmont Stakes

As the handsome colt posed in the Winner's Circle, a blanket of white carnations draped across his withers, it's humorous to recall the vast support surrounding the theory that Union Rags, as a son of Dixie Union, stood no chance at the Belmont distance. In reality, this Belmont winner's pedigree is far better than just average. Union Rag's damsire, Gone West, sired Belmont winner Commendable and was the grandsire of Smarty Jones. His granddam, Terpsichorist, set course records for both 11 and 13 furlongs at The Meadowlands, on the turf. Terpsichorist is sired by English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II. Union Rag's grandsire, Dixieland Band, is the damsire of Kentucky Derby winners Monarchos and Street Sense. Union Rag's dosage profile of 9-1-10-2-0 is a cozy fit for longer distances.

The Belmont said and done, perhaps Union Rags will get some of the respect that he deserves. Following two disappointing finishes in the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, many have doubted the bay colt's maturity and will to win. Those questions have been answered now; the doubters may hold their peace. Union Rags, yes, a son of Dixie Union, has indeed matured from 2 to 3. And yes, he is every bit as gutsy and determined as Derby and Preakness champion I'll Have Another. Many comparisons may be made between the two in the coming weeks; a great deal of racing fans will be mourning the loss of what could've been a Triple Crown run. I, too, share sympathies with I'll Have Another and his crew. My attitude, however remains upbeat; in the coming weeks, I won't lament what could've and should've. I'm going to celebrate.

Union Rags and I'll Have Another have brought me on a great adventure. Through thrills and chills, ups and downs, tears of sadness and joy, 2012's 3 year old crop has more than lived up to its billing. Each prep race and all three classics left me screaming til my lungs were sure to collapse. The dozen-length victories were a thing of beauty; the narrow triumphs were breath-taking. Yes, there was no Triple Crown winner -- but we had an unforgettable venture along the path to the roses, the black-eyed susans, and the white carnations. There may have been 2 different classic winners, but they were both brilliant in their own ways: as were their rivals, without which there would be no race. As the horse racing world shifts its view from Triple Crown to Breeders' Cup, and the dawning search for 2 year old talent, I'd like to give a big thank-you to the wonderful athletes that make up the Thoroughbred breed. Without these brave, hard-trying horses, there would be no Sport of the Kings.

Well done, I'll Have Another. Congratulations, Union Rags. A big round of applause to every Thoroughbred horse in the States and abroad. It is thanks to you that this lovely sport lives on year after year. Here's to a great rest of the season -- dearest Triple Crown winner, may we meet soon!

2012 Belmont Stakes: a Look at the Field

As the field raced home in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, punters of all varieties were left gasping at their racing forms. At odds of 43-1, the chestnut colt labeled I'll Have Another was nothing but a funny name with obscure connections. No one thought they'd be seeing the sixth place finisher of the Hopeful Stakes triumph in the Grade II, $200,000 event by over 2 lengths. If someone would have dared tout I'll Have Another a serious threat to the Triple Crown, I can only imagine the laughs they'd have gathered. 


But that was in February. It's June now, and legions of people -- racing fans or not -- will be flocking to Belmont in hopes of witnessing J. Paul Reddam's little, chestnut colt capture sports' most elusive prize. It's been 34 years since Affirmed won the Triple Crown; since then, 11 colts have conquered the Derby and Preakness only to fall short in the grueling 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont Stakes. At odds of 4-5, I'll Have Another will be posing as favorite for the first time in his career. But there will be no walk-over; there have been 11 Triple Crown winners, 11 horses to fail since the last Triple Crown, and 11 brilliant colts vying the steal the day.
Interestingly, I'll Have Another has drawn post position 11.

Below I've listed, in order of post position, the field lined up for the 2012 edition of the Belmont Stakes.
Read my opinions, consider my selections, and post your own in the comment section!



1)  Street Life: 2 for 5 in his short career, Street Life has displayed solid potential. A deep closer, he is coming off a career-best Beyer Speed Figure (93) in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. Since his maiden victory, Street Life's only "bad" performance was a 6th in the Wood Memorial. The distance of the Belmont should be right up his alley, and he's already proven to like the surface -- an edge he has over I'll Have Another. Street Life's sire, Street Sense, won the Kentucky Derby and Travers Stakes. His damsire, Grindstone, also won the Kentucky Derby; in addition, he is known as the sire of Belmont winner Birdstone, and the grandsire of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Street Sense's dosage index of 3 and dosage profile of 5-3-8-0-0 are solid supports that this colt should no mind the Belmont distance of 1 1/2 miles. My primary concern would be for Street Life's deep-closing style. Although his rail post position should allow him to save ground before his rally, the Belmont tends to favor stalkers over this sort of horse. I expect Street Life to pass tiring rivals, and grind his way close, if not in, the money. For more information on Street Life, read my article here.


2)  Unstoppable U: An extremely green horse with only 2 races under his belt; they were both victories, but over much lesser fields than this one. He has never raced past 1 mile, and his career-best Beyer was a mere 82. The one, bright factor to Unstoppable U's credit is that his most recent victory was over the same track as the Belmont Stakes. He led that race through soft fractions from start to finish; I expect him to be enforcing the pace in the early stages of the Belmont. Although Unstoppable U's dam, Naseem, was a turf runner who always seemed to tire before the end of a race, his broodmare sire is the great Point Given, winner of the 2001 Belmont Stakes. Point Given is sired by Thunder Gulch - also a Belmont winner, in the sixth fastest time in history. Unstoppable U's granddam is the Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. On his sire's side of the family, however, Unstoppable U comes up shallow. His sire is Exchange Rate, 12th in the 2000 Kentucky Derby; Exchange Rate foals do their best running at much shorter distances than 1 1/2 miles. I expect Unstoppable U to tire long before the end of the Belmont.


3)  Union Rags: Perhaps the horse with the most questions to answer; once considered the best 3 year old in the nation, Union Rags has disappointed in 3 of his last 4 starts. Following a huge victory in the Fountain of Youth, the bay colt found himself drowned in traffic in the G1 Florida Derby. When he finally broke lose, Union Rags found his best stride late and came home a closing third. In the Derby, he encountered trouble again -- following a nightmare break from the gate, Union Rags was shoved back to 18th place. More trouble ensued, and as he made his run in late stretch, the colt was swung wide by another horse, and lost nearly all his momentum -- he rallied again, but finished 7th. Although many regard Union Rags as a horse who finds himself trouble, I believe that if given a clean trip, this colt could blow away nearly any field. Although he's slow to find his best stride, Union Rags always puts forth some sort of closing effort. The wide, sweeping turns of Belmont Park should work hand in hand with Union Rag's long stride and his new jockey, John Velazquez, who - ironically - won the Belmont Stakes with champion filly Rags to Riches. It is also to be noted that Union Rag's best performance came at Belmont Park in the G1 Champagne Stakes, in which he split horses and blew away the field by over 5 lengths. Contrary to popular belief, he also possesses a very likable distance pedigree. Union Rag's damsire, Gone West, sired 2000 Belmont winner Commendable and was the grandsire of Smarty Jones. His granddam, Terpsichorist, set course records for both 11 and 13 furlongs at The Meadowlands, on the turf. Terpsichorist is sired by English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II. On the paternal side of Union Rag's pedigree is Dixieland Band, his grandsire, who is the damsire of Kentucky Derby winners Monarchos and Street Sense. I am very confident about Union Rag's ability to stretch out and go the distance. His dosage profile of 9-1-10-2-0 is one of the best in the Belmont field, as it includes digits in the Solid wing. I remain firm in my beliefs that this son of Dixie Union is no ordinary horse... if he gets a good trip.


4)  Atigun: This son of Istan is coming from a victory at Churchill in an Allowance Optional Claimer at 1 1/6 miles. He placed 5th in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, 11th in the Rebel, and 5th in the Arkansas Derby. Atigun seems like the sort of horse who never runs his best with the top company; a deserving long shot. Although his sire, Istan, ran his best at shorter distances, Atigun's grandsire is Gone West, who is also the grandsire of Smarty Jones and the sire of Belmont winner Commendable. His damsire is the brilliant distance sire, Dynaformer; however, his granddam, Evangelic, is sired by the speedy Devil's Bag. The lack of solidity in Atigun's pedigree paired with his relative lack accomplishments should be enough to see this colt come home out of the money.


5)  Dullahan: A colt who has captured the confidence of many handicappers and trainers alike, Dullahan finished a fast-closing third in the Kentucky Derby after setting a new stakes record for the Bluegrass Stakes (on the polytrack). Recently, he drilled a 4 furlong bullet of 45.97 seconds; many have noted the similarities between this drill and his speedy work before the Blue Grass Stakes. I am very impressed with all that Dullahan has done, however, I am slightly dubious of his ability to get the 12 furlong distance. To touch at the base of the issue, Dullahan's dosage index of 4.20 is the highest in the field. While his dam, Mining My Own, foaled Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, his sire, Even the Score, did his best running at 9 furlongs -- and like Dullahan, he came third in his only 10 furlong event (the Hollywood Gold Cup). Even the Score has produced some distance runners, but nearly all of them captured their victories on the turf. Dullahan's grandsire, Unbridled's Song, also never won past 1 1/8 miles; his offspring have a reputation as being talented but fragile (think Eight Belles), and have yet to win a classic race. But back to his maternal side, Dullahan's pedigree taps deep into a vein of stamina; his damsire, Smart Strike, has sired Preakness winners Lookin' At Lucky and Curlin in addition to turf routing champion English Channel. While I am not wholly convinced about Dullahan's ability to thrive on dirt (both of his major wins came on the synthetics) and distance, I would not rank him at the bottom of the chart so far as this field is concerned. While a win by him would certainly surprise me, a place or show would not.


6)  Ravelo's Boy: In his most recent start, the Tampa Bay Derby, Ravelo's Boy finished a lackluster 5th. Before that, in the Sam. F. Davis Stakes, he finished 4th, and in the Gulfstream Park Derby, 5th. The winners of all three of these races - Reveron, Battle Hardened and Prospective - have failed to make a splash in any of this year's classics. Ravelo's Boy has not won since a victory over allowance optional claiming company at 1 1/16 miles, back in December. I do not see him putting up any sort of fight against such a top tier horse as I'll Have Another. His pedigree suggests that the 1 1/2 miles will be far out of his range; Ravelo's Boy's sire, Lawyer Ron, finished very poorly 3 out of the 4 times he ran at 10 furlongs. His grandsire is Langfuhr, who never won past 8 furlongs. Ravelo's Boy's damsire is French Deputy, who also never triumphed past 1 mile. Although Ravelo's Boy has been training well at Calder, I see no indication that he belongs with this field.


7)  Five Sixteen: It took Five Sixteen five tries to break his maiden, and he has not won since. In his most recent start, a 9 furlong allowance at Aqueduct, his chances may have been soiled when the colt acted up in the starting gate, and had to be reloaded. He broke without further chaos, but was spun wide off of the turn, and came fourth by over 11 lengths. In Five Sixteen's only start at Belmont Park, he finished 10th out of 10 horses: not an encouraging fact when taken into consideration that the Belmont is, yes, of course, at Belmont. He has been working well at Belmont, however, and for much longer than the competition. Five Sixteen's sire is Invasor, who won the Dubai World Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic. His damsire is Salt Lake, however, a sprinter who never won past 7 furlongs. Salt Lake is known for being a fantastic broodmare sire for sprinters; notably, he sired the dams of Fire Slam and Brooke's Halo, both of which did their best work at condensed distances. Although I'll always cheer for women jockeys in the classic races, I do not expect Five Sixteen to be any sort of factor in the Belmont Stakes.


8)  Guyana Star Dweej: Guyana Star Dweej is the typical long shot, with a lone win to his resume -- it took him 8 starts to break his maiden. The chestnut colt is coming off a second place effort in a 1 mile allowance event at Belmont Park. Although it's reassuring that he seemed to take well to the track, the resulting Beyer of 70 was far below his career best of 84 -- although he was coming from Aqueduct, where the highest Beyers always seem to be handed. In his most recent works at Belmont, Guyana Star Dweej has ran very poorly, weakening visibly toward the end. In one work, the rider pulled him up at the sixteenth pole of what was supposed to be a 5 furlong work, saying that the horse "didn't want to work". This is not good news for an allowance-level horse going into a 1 1/2 mile stakes race. But on a brighter note, no one can say that Guyana Star Dweej was not bred to go the distance. His sire, Eddington, was phenomenal up until a mile and three-sixteenths; he tired to fourth in the Belmont, but captured the Calder Derby and Pimlico Special Handicap. Eddington's sire, Unbridled, won the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic -- he, too, finished fourth in the Belmont. Unbridled is best known for siring Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone, who went on to sire Birdstone, who won the Belmont before going on to sire Smarty Jones. He also sired Belmont winner Empire Maker. The dam of Eddington was long distance turf runner Fashion Star, who came fourth in the 1 1/2 mile Long Island Handicap. Guyana Star Dweej's broodmare sire is Pine Bluff, winner of the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont, beaten by only a length. I could go on all day, but you get the point -- Guyana Star Dweej has a very, very classy pedigree. I expect him to eat up the Belmont distance, and grind his way past all the tiring horses -- although I can easily see Guyana Star Dweej ranking on the top half of the field, I do not suspect he'll land in the money.


9)  Paynter: Clad in the blue and yellow silks of Zayat Stables, Paynter will be looking to stake revenge against the chestnut colt who twice defeated his stablemate, Bodemeister. And Paynter might just be the horse to do it. Paynter is sired by Awesome Again, who topped his undefeated 4 year old season with a victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic. Awesome Again has gone on to become one of the greatest sires in North America; notably, he has sired Breeders' Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper, Breeder's Cup Distaff winners Ginger Punch and Round Pond, and Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Awesome Gem. Paynter's dam, Tizso, is a full sibling to Tiznow, two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic, and Budroyale, a Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up.
Although I have little doubt about Paynter's genetic potential to get the 1 1/2 distance, the bay colt has only 4 races under his belt -- there's no telling how his system might respond to the grueling Belmont challenge. For a likely scenario, look at the mile and an eighth Santa Anita Derby -- a race he jumped to after a 5 1/2 furlong maiden sprint. Paynter seemed overwhelmed by the huge, 3 1/2 furlong jump-up, and came home a still-impressive fourth. I believe he'll have a similar reaction to the step up from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/2: also a jump of 3 1/2 furlongs. Look for Paynter to run a huge, hard-fought race, but be a bit overwhelmed by the added ground. He should come in, or very close, to the money, but lack enough experience to gun the win.


10)  Optimizer: A colt whose best effort was a second in the Rebel Stakes; I question Lukas's decision to run Optimizer in all three of the Triple Crown races. His Beyers have not improved since the Rebel Stakes, and neither has his placing; Optimizer was 9th in the Arkansas Derby, 11th in the Kentucky Derby, and 6th in the Preakness Stakes. However, this colt has found redemption - at least in this writer's eyes - in the impeccable stamina of his bloodline. His sire, the great English Channel, set a course record in the 1 1/2 mile Breeders' Cup Turf. His grandsire, Smart Strike, sired Preakness winners Curlin And Lookin' At Lucky. Optimizer's dam, Indy Pick, has produced the stakes-placed steeplechaser, Humdinger, who has won at distances up to 3 1/8 miles. Indy Pick is by the great, stamina-rich A.P. Indy, winner of the Belmont and sire of Preakness winner Bernardini, Belmont winner Rags to Riches, and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Mineshaft. A.P. Indy is sired by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. With the abundance of distance in his pedigree, I foresee Optimizer doing very well in a career of routing on the turf (like his sire). After two grueling races in both the Derby and Preakness, he shouldn't be fresh enough to completely steal the Belmont. However, I would not at all be surprised by a close placing from Optimizer. He's a better bet than most of the field.


11)  I'll Have Another: Elegantly bred for the Belmont Stakes, and with a glamorous record to boot. Fans of horse racing, and just sports in general, will be eyeing this colt with a shiver to their smile; as always with Triple Crown hopefuls, it'll be I'll Have Another who captivates the nation, win, lose, or draw. Fortunate for dreamers, he has worked well coming into this race, despite a highly unusual training ritual -- no workouts, only gallops for the long-striding chestnut colt. Some have put timers to these so-called "gallops", and the results have been astounding -- bullet-like fractions that quickened as he went and final times that would've shattered the works list. I'll Have Another is chiseled to perfection; the last two classics seem to have taken nothing from his brilliance. The mile and a half distance should be right up his alley; I'll Have Another's sire, Flower Alley, won the 10 furlong Travers Stakes, and was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Flower Alley's sire, Distorted Humor, has sired the near-Triple Crown winner, Funny Cide, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Last year's Breeders' Cup Classic winner (and also, 2010 Belmont winner), Drosselmeyer, was also sired by Distorted Humor. His damsire, Arch, sired Breeders' Cup Classic winner Blame, and his second dam, Force Give Gal, was sired by Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Pleasant Tap. I'll Have Another's pedigree is solid, not fashionable, and that's just what we want for the Belmont Stakes. The influence of distance runners such as Pleasant Tap and Caucasus, who won the 14 furlong Irish St. Leger, should help I'll Have Another sail from start to finish. His dosage index is the lowest in the field at a very cozy 2.11. I think this colt is sitting on a huge race. While I wouldn't be surprised with an upset from Union Rags or even Paynter or Street Life, I have very high expectations for I'll Have Another. Win or not, he should prove the hype right.


12)  My Adonis: Certainly one of the more sketchy entrees, as My Adonis has yet to win this year. In his most recent start, the Canonero II Stakes, he came up a very spotty third after leading the way up into the stretch. His sire, Pleasantly Perfect, won multiple times at 10 furlongs, including the Breeders' Cup Classic. My Adonis's grandsire, Pleasant Colony, won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before coming third in the Belmont. Pleasant Colony has sired distance runners such as Pleasant Tap, yet is classified as an Intermediate chef-de-race; his offspring tend to run their best around a mile and upward. Pleasantly Perfect is out of Regal State, who was sired by the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed. On the paternal side of My Adonis's pedigree, there is an abundance of distance ability. On his dam's side, Silent Justice, there is not quite as much. My Adonis's broodmare sire, Elusive Quality, did his best running around 8 furlongs or less. His sire, however, is Gone West, who sired Belmont winner Commendable and is the grandsire of Smarty Jones. Also close in the pedigree is King Emperor, who is solely a speed influence. While My Adonis's pedigree certainly could be worse, it is far from what is best for the 1 1/2 mile distance. I expect My Adonis to run on the early lead before tiring to the back of the pack.




My Selections:


Union Rags
I'll Have Another
Paynter
Street Life
(yes, in that order)

Belmont Contender: Street Life

In the last four years, no horse has won the Belmont Stakes with odds lower than 12-1.
At odds of 15-1, Belmont hopeful Street Life is on the right side of the fence. The dark bay son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense will be looking to shock the world by gutting an end to I'll Have Another's four race winning streak.

While the Chad Brown trainee has not flouted his talent with major stakes victories or a string of wins, he has certainly proven to have a good deal of heart and a nifty knack of last-to-first charges. At first, his resume is bland. When tallied with I'll Have Another's $2,693,600 sum of career earnings, Street Life's payroll of $114,405 seems less than spectacular. He has won two races out of 5 starts; I'll Have Another has gathered four victories out of 6 races. He has never raced past 1 1/8 miles; I'll Have Another has triumphed at 1 1/4.
But ultimately, it is the horse who wins the race -- not his previous achievements. The horse behind the race record of long shot Street Life is one worth a long, careful look.

As a 2 year old, Street Life was unraced. His career did not kick off until the 5th of January at Gulfstream Park. In a 6 furlong maiden special weight event (on the dirt), the son of Stone Hope loped home an uninspiring 8th in a field of 13 horses. He was given a month off, and shipped to Aqueduct for another maiden special weight on the inner dirt course -- this time at 1 mile & 70 yards. Street Life trailed the field until the foot of the stretch, where he was sent to task with light urging. The dark bay colt sailed through the field, losing no momentum in spite of a zigzagged ride with two changes of course. He put away the other colts with laughable ease, triumphing by 2 1/2 lengths. In third was fellow Belmont hopeful Five Sixteen.

Having wowed not until the onlookers, but trainer Chad Brown as well, Street Life was pointed to the
1 1/16 mile Broad Brush Stakes. He romped again, running down the leader from the back of the pack in spite of not switching leads. Although the race itself was in sluggish time (1:46.87) the final furlong was ran in a blistering 11 seconds and change.

Next up was Aqueduct's G1 Wood Memorial Stakes, contested at 1 1/8 miles. Street Life hugged back against the rail, trailing the field by a lengthy margin. At the half-mile pole he closed the gap, surging forward impressively before deflating in the stretch to a lackluster sixth. In spite of his bad placing, Street Life was rated with a Beyer Speed Figure of 86, equal to that of his last start. The final time was 1:50.96

Street Life's next start would come at Belmont Park, home of the prestigious Belmont Stakes. In the G2,
1 1/8 mile Peter Pan Stakes, Street Life trailed the field by his usual, yawning gap. Coming into the far turn, he was last by 5 lengths; it was about at the middle point of the turn that Jose Lezcano began to urge Street Life to make his move. The dark bay colt spun wide by five lengths, but lost none of his momentum. Street Life kicked powerfully down the center of the lane, flying to catch the two in front. In the final fractions of the race, it is easily visible that Street Life is moving much faster than the two in front. He was too late, however, and finished a narrow third behind Mark Valeski and Right To Vote -- defeated by less than 2 lengths. The final time was 1:48.31; with his third-place finish, Street Life garnered a Beyer figure of 93, the highest in his career.

Although the Belmont does not favor closers, it does celebrate horses with pedigrees of Street Life's style. His sire, Street Sense, remains the only horse to have won both the Breeder's Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby. His damsire, Grindstone, also won the Kentucky Derby; in addition, he is known as the sire of Belmont winner Birdstone, and the grandsire of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Street Sense's dosage index of 3 and dosage profile of 5-3-8-0-0 are solid supports that this colt should not mind the Belmont distance of 1 1/2 miles.

In workouts, too, Street Life has been phenomenal. On Sunday, he worked five furlongs in 1:01: the 9th fastest work of 44 at that distance.
"I was really happy with the move," said trainer Chad Brown, "He galloped out well and came back good, so it was just what I was looking for. I think this horse is bred to run all day, and he trains like he wants to run all day, so I'm excited to get him to that 1 1/2 mile distance and see what he does."

Needless to say, I'm excited too. Street Life has shown nothing but promise so far in his short career. Although his running style does not fit that of the typical Belmont winner, he has proven to like the track and has a solid, distance pedigree. If things go well on June 9th, Street Life might carry out his family's classic-winning tradition.