The Belmont Stakes

A quick word about the Belmont before RR begins his Eureka recovery. I've followed this only peripherally as there's been so little word about the training. But, some general observations:

1. C.P. West--can he overcome Zito training? Possibly. He looked like a decent horse in the Preakness. Fear Nick Z. might have gone on with him. So, dangerous. Unknown though.

2. Slew's Tizzy--liked the looks of him in the last race. Showed trainer is other than a complete fool. Biggest threat to the winner.

3. I'mawildandcrazyguy: up the track. the trainer with his horse.

4. Hard Spun: There is no published evidence that HS has done anything of note since the Preakness. That's too long! Has anybody gotten more ink for finishing up the track two successive races. Repeat.

5. Rags to Riches: Who was dumb enough to enter this filly, Pletcher or Tabor? Suspect it was Tabor. Unnecessary to relate the lack of adequate training or racing for this filly. I feel sorry for the horse. What is the point? Up the track. Hope she makes it through.

6. Tiago: Shireffs seems to be the only one that recognizes the race is 1.5 miles. Two things will do in Tiago--lack of a recent race, i.e. racing fitness, and lack of talent, and possibly Shireff's disposition to do almost nothing with a horse after the last pre-race breeze. I think he'll put in a run, but he'll be way back.

7. Curlin: this race should be a Secretariat type runaway. Is it Asmussen's training? In this group of trainers, probably. What other horse here has been galloping two miles?

Hard Spun will fade at the mile like a snowflake on a hot griddle being passed by Slews Tizzy and Curlin and then CP West who is unable to catch the top two. Curlin will leave Slew at the 1/8 winning by x number of lengths. As the pictures fades, out of the corner of our eye we see Tiago flying at the edge of the screen. Carl Nafzger is in the stands scouting for the Breeder's Cup confident his horse can take these.