The Triple Crown should have kicked off on May 2nd with the traditional order of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes over a tight 5 week course culminating on June 6th. Rather, races began to be cancelled, postponed, held without spectators and raced without large fields as the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping the world. The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby started to drop some races and pick-up others. Finally, new dates over a long 15 week stretch, were set placing the KY Derby on September 5th, the Preakness on October 3rd and the Belmont Stakes on June 20th.
I am ever so happy that tomorrow, Saturday June 20th, the oldest leg of the Triple Crown series will be raced, please, welcome the 152nd Belmont Stakes! Also, known as The Test of the Champions or the Run for the Carnations, the Belmont is typically the longest race of the series at 1 and 1/2 miles. Naturally, as the first jewel in the crown, it has been scaled back to 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs), on the dirt, for 3 year-old thoroughbreds. The purse is $1 million dollars and the race is Grade I. Still under global pandemic pressures, the race will be held without spectators. Fortunately, NBC will televise the racing at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY from 2:45 PM to 6 PM ET. The feature (race 10) posts at 5:42 PM ET. The card will also host, the Acorn Stakes (race 8), a classic 3 year-old fillies race at 4:15 PM ET. Race 1 posts at 11:45 AM ET and the day finishes with the 12th race posting at 6:49 PM ET.
The Belmont Stakes field is as follows by post position/horse/jockey/trainer/owner and morning-line odds:
- Tap It to Win/John R. Velazquez/Mark E. Casse/Live Oak Plantation/6-1
- Sole Volante/Luca Panici/Patrick L. Biancone/Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andy Biancone/9-2
- Max Player/Joel Rosario/Linda Rice/George E. Hall and Sport BLX Thoroughbreds Corp/15-1
- Modernist/Junior Alverado/William I. Mott/Martin and Pam Wygod/15-1
- Farmington Road/Javier Castellano/Todd A. Pletcher/Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Chrysalis Stables LLS and Robert V. LaPenta/15-1
- Fore Left/Jose L. Ortiz/Doug F. O’Neill/Reddam Racing LLC/30-1
- Jungle Runner/Reylu Gutierrez/Steven M. Asmussen/50-1
- Tiz the Law/Manuel Franco/Barclay Tagg/Sackatoga Stable/6-5
- Dr Post/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd A. Pletcher/St. Elias Stable/5-1
- Pneumatic/Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC/8-1
Now let’s review some details by horse (state of breeding) sire – dam: (career entries – wins:2nds:3rds) and a bit more…
Tap It to Win (FL) Tapit – Onepointhreekarats: (6:3-1-0) is an undefeated in 2020 ridgling and comes off a win this month right at Belmont Park. However, that race was an allowance and he has not won any KY Derby Prep races, having only competed in one, where he finished 10th in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. Both his trainer, Casse and his jockey, Velazquez have won the Breeders’ Stakes in the past, Casse did so just last year.
Sole Volante (KY) Karakontie – Light Blow: (6:4-1-1) is ranked 14th in the KY Derby leaderboard having achieved points in the Sam F. Davis and the South Tampa Bay Derby with 1st and 2nd place finishes respectively. This gelding has formerly only raced in Florida. His connections bring no Belmont Stakes wins to the team.
Max Player (KY) Honor Code – Fools In Love: (3:2-1-0) is a lightly raced horse who picked up KY Derby points when he won the Withers. His jockey, Rosario, won the Belmont Stakes last year.
Modernist (KY) Uncle Mo – Symbolic Gesture: (5:2-0-2) got his start racing at Belmont Park. He picked up KY Derby points in his last 2 starts. He finished first in the Risen Star and then 3rd in the Louisiana Derby. He is 6th on the KY Derby leaderboard. His trainer, Mott, won the Belmont Stakes 10 years ago.
Farmington Road (KY) Quality Road – Silver La Belle:(6:1-2-0) is 24th on the KY Derby leaderboard competing for 18 domestic posts (a European and and Japanese horse may fill out 2 of the 20 total posts). The Belmont Stakes is offering the largest amount of KY Derby points awarding and outstanding 150-60-30-15 points to the first 4 finishers respectively. This race alone would award enough points to the winner to take the top place on the leaderboard. Thus he has plenty of time to move up the ranks. Farmington Road earned his KY Derby points with 4th place finishes in both the Risen Star and the Arkansas Derby. His career began at Belmont Park. Pletcher, his trainer has won the Belmont Stakes twice.
Fore Left (KY) Twirling Candy – Simply Sunny: (9:4-0-2) has had a different career path. He has more experience than the rest of the field but he has yet to earn and KY Derby points. Despite being listed in many graded, listed and black type stakes he only entered and performed poorly in one KY Derby prep. His last win and last start was in Dubai early this year. One of his wins was at Belmont Park His jockey, Ortiz has won the Belmont Stakes.
Jungle Runner (KY) Candy Ride – Minx: (8:2-0-0) is a bit of a surprising entry to me. He is experienced and has won twice including once in a black type stakes but in his last KY Derby prep, his last start, he finished eighth. He did get one point with a 4th place finish in the Remington Springboard Mile. His trainer Asmussen, has won the Belmont Stakes as has his owner, Calumet Farm.
Tiz the Law (NY) Constitution – TizFiz: (5:4-0-1) is the favorite! He is currently number one on the KY Derby leaderboard. He already has 122 points that he gathered with 3 wins and one third place finish in a total of 4 KY Derby prep races! He is the Florida Derby winner at 1 and 1/8 miles. He has raced and won at Belmont Park. He is in fact a New Yorker himself.
Dr Post (KY) Quality Road – Mary Delaney: (3:2-0-0), his career began with his only loss at Belmont Park. He has twice raced and won at Gulfstream since, his last start was a black type stakes. Both his jockey, Ortiz, and his trainer, Pletcher , have won the Belmont Stakes.
Pneumatic (KY) Uncle Mo – Teardrop:(3:2-0-1) gathered 10 KY Derby points with his 3rd place finish in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs in late May. This was a new addition to the Road to the Kentucky Derby. His prior 2 starts were both wins at Oaklawn. He is also trained by Belmont Stakes winning, Asmussen.
I am quite pleased that Classic racing, Triple Crown Racing is alive and well In America and globally once again. I can not wait for the tracks to open back up to spectators so I can see some of these champions live and get some thoroughbred pictures. It has been so long since I was at the races. I will be glued to my television tomorrow for the racing at Belmont and at Royal Ascot. Please, feel free to share my post on Thoroughbred U as a reference for the big race!
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