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Sat June 8th, 2024 |
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Stakes Spotlight
Saratoga Race 12
Post Time 5:41 PM CST
THE BELMONT STAKES
Interesting race and interesting morning line. I believe the
linemaker has the right favorite pegged but he made a horse with only two
lifetime starts the second choice over the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the
winner of the Preakness. Maybe he’s right but we’ll see.
I think 9-SIERRA LEONE is the best horse. That being said,
we all know he has an issue lugging in. That trait probably cost him the
Kentucky Derby win and it at least bothered Forever Young enough that a look by
the stewards should have been warranted. His connections are replacing his bit
with a cage bit which often helps runners that have a tough time maintaining a
straight line. But why wasn’t this done sooner? It was an ongoing issue. It
might help, it might not.
3-MYSTIC DAN won the Kentucky Derby and ran well enough to
finish second in the Preakness, unable to catch the lone front runner. It would
be foolish to think that he wasn’t capable of winning this race.
You have to figure that 1-SEIZE THE DAY will be sent again.
It worked so well in the Preakness, even though it hadn’t been his typical M O.
But the secret is out and I doubt someone won’t test him early.
That leaves 10-MINDFRAME. He’ll be the “now” horse after two
dominating wins. But you have to remember that he hasn’t faced much, certainly
not as much as the rest of the highly seasoned runners in this race. Many
maintain that this was the weakest 3yo crop in a long time. Is he that good? Maybe.
But I think he’ll be overbet.