Belmont Stakes (G1) – Belmont Park – $1,000,000 – 1 1/2 miles – Dirt

FINAL RESULTS:

1. Union Rags
2. Paynter
3. Atigun
4. Street Life
5. Five Sixteen
6. Unstoppable U
7. Dullahan
8. My Adonis
9. Ravelo’s Boy
10. Optimizer
11. Guyana Star Dweej

Final Time: 2:30.42

#1 Street Life – Trainer Chad Brown – Jockey Jose Lezcano – 12/1
Son of Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Street Sense will is yet another who will come from far behind in this race. In his two wins, maiden and Broad Brush Stakes, he displayed a strong late kick. In the Resorts World Casino Wood Memorial, he got off to a slower than normal start and found himself 8 lengths behind the closest competitor and 14 lengths behind the leader. It was too much to overcome and he finished 6th. He was 10th and last in the Peter Pan Stakes (G2) until the top of the stretch. He flew by several horses and just about got up for 2nd. He missed Right to Vote by 1/2 length. Winner Mark Valeski was another 1 1/4 lengths ahead. The additional 3/8 of a mile for the Belmont makes this colt an intriguing play. Can he win? That’s a lot to ask. Is he a play for exotics. Absolutely.

Latest Workouts:
Belmont Park – 6/3/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.15 – Breezing – 9/23
Belmont Park – 5/26/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 47.82 – Breezing – 9/44
Belmont Park – 5/6/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:02.97 – Breezing – 13/18
Belmont Park – 4/29/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.32 – Breezing – 4/14
Belmont Park – 4/21/2012 – Dirt training – 4F – 49.83 – Breezing – 40/75
Belmont Park – 4/1/2012 – Dirt training – 4F – 48.10 – Breezing – 2/43

#2 Unstoppable U – Trainer Kenneth McPeek – Jockey Junior Alvarado – 30/1
Just two races for this up and comer from the McPeek barn. He broke his maiden going six furlongs at Aqueduct, then followed it up with a strong 6 1/4 win in an Allowance Optional Claiming $75,000 at Belmont Park. He hasn’t gone further than one mile, so the move is an interesting one. He likes the lead, yet hasn’t gone long distance. This is more than just a huge jump in class. This is one huge leap all around. This could end up being a solid horse, but this should not be the next step for him.

Latest Workouts:
Belmont Park – 6/3/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:02.05 – Breezing – 18/23
Belmont Park – 5/26/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 59.22 – Breezing – 1/10
Belmont Park – 5/19/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 49.19 – Breezing – 29/47
Belmont Park – 5/7/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 47.66 – Breezing – 2/102
Belmont Park – 4/21/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 59.93 – Breezing – 1/17
Belmont Park – 4/14/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:00.97 – Breezing – 4/17
Belmont Park – 3/24/2012 – Dirt training – 5F – 1:04.23 – Breezing – 15/20

#3 Union Rags – Trainer Michael Matz – Jockey John Velasquez – 6/1
Anything that could have gone wrong, went wrong for the Derby 2nd favorite. As soon as the gate opened, he was squeezed to the very back of the field by Take Charge Indy and Dullahan. He wanted to be sitting off the leaders instead Julien Leparoux had to be patient and not spend his energy trying to catch up early. As they hit the far turn, Leparoux knew he had to make a move. The colt exploded, then had to be steadied quickly as Daddy Long Legs was being pulled up right in front of him. Leparoux gathered his colt for one last move as they turned for home. He made good progress down the middle of the lane, but he ran out of real estate and gas. Lots of “what ifs” and bad racing luck for Michael Matz colt. The bypassing of the Preakness means this colt will be fresh and ready to go. He is used to the Belmont track as he won the Champagne Stakes (G1) last October. Matz makes the switch to veteran New York rider John Velasquez. Julien Leparoux has ridden this colt all year.

Latest Workouts:
Fair Hill – 6/3/12 – Dirt – 5F – 59.00 – Breezing – Rank 1/6
Fair Hill – 5/24/12 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.00 – Breezing – Rank 1/5
Churchill Downs – 4/28/12 – Dirt – 5F – 59.80 – Breezing – Rank 3/53
Keeneland – 4/20/12 – All Weather Track – 4F – 47.40 – Breezing – Rank 3/43
Palm Meadows Training Center – 4/12/12 – Dirt – 4F – 48.40 – Breezing – Rank 2/16
Palm Meadows Training Center – 3/24/12 – Dirt – 4F – 49.10 – Breezing – Rank 13/41
Palm Meadows Training Center – 3/17/12 – Dirt – 5F – 1:04.21 – Breezing – Rank 22/22
Palm Meadows Training Center – 3/10/12 – Dirt – 4F – 50.76 – Breezing – Rank 48/51
Palm Meadows Training Center – 2/19/12 – Dirt – 4F – 48.81 – Breezing – Rank 13/40
Palm Meadows Training Center – 2/13/12 – Dirt – 5F – 1:03.08 – Breezing – Rank 21/26
Palm Meadows Training Center – 2/06/12 – Dirt – 4F – 48.67 – Breezing – Rank 1/27

#4 Atigun – Trainer Kenneth McPeek – Jockey Julien Leparoux – 30/1
After breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs on November 6, he followed up with a 5th place effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) 20 days later. He won his three year old debut in an Allowance Optional Claiming $50,000 at Oaklawn Park on January 15. Two months later, he went back to the graded ranks and finished 11th in the Rebel Stakes (G2). A 5th place finish would have looked good had it not been for Bodemeister winning by 9 1/4 lengths. He closed hard down the middle of the stretch and was just 1 3/4 lengths behind Secret Circle for 2nd. His last race was a comfortable win in an Allowance Optional Claiming $100,000 at Churchill in April. He sits far back early and will be looking to make a run late. The Belmont Stakes has proceed its fair share of long shot winners in the past, but Atigun hasn’t showed enough to make us think he is ready to tackle the big boys. He also loses regular rider Julien Leparoux as he heads back to his usual mount on Union Rags.

Latest Workouts:
Belmont Park – 6/3/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 48.55 – Breezing – 25/66
Belmont Park – 5/26/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 46.77 – Breezing – 1/44
Belmont Park – 5/19/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 50.23 – Breezing – 38/47
Churchill Downs – 4/28/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.80 – Breezing – 19/53
Oaklawn Park – 4/7/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 59.60 – Breezing – 1/44
Oaklawn Park – 4/1/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.40 – Breezing – 6/30

#5 Dullahan – Trainer Dale Romans – Jockey Javier Castellano – 5/1
If the Kentucky Derby was the 1 1/2 miles distance of the Belmont Stakes, he would have won the race. As usual, the Even the Score colt released a late charge and missed catching Bodemeister by a neck for second. He was an additional 1 1/2 lengths behind I’ll Have Another. The additional 1/4 mile would have made a difference on that day. You have to like that Romans bypassed the shorter Preakness for the longer Belmont. Not to mention he will have 5 weeks in between races versus 3 weeks like I’ll Have Another. His victory in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and 3rd in the Derby shows he is in the elite class. Serious contender to knock off I’ll Have Another and upset the chance of a triple crown winner. With the recent issues surrounding regular jockey Kent Desormeaux, Romans snagged leading rider Javier Castellano.

Latest Workouts:
Belmont Park – 6/3/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 45.97 – Breezing – 1/66
Churchill Downs – 5/26/2012 – Dirt – 1M – 1:43.00 – Breezing – 1/1
Churchill Downs – 5/19/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:00.20 – Breezing – 2/26
Churchill Downs – 4/28/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.20 – Breezing – 9/53
Keeneland – 4/8/2012 – All Weather Track – 5F – 57.40 – Handily – 1/33
Gulfstream Park – 4/1/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:02.10 – Breezing – 10/11

#6 Ravelo’s Boy – Trainer Manuel Azpurua – Jockey Alex Solis – 50/1
All 13 career races have been in Florida at Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. He has just two wins in those 13. His maiden back on August 27 (4th time out) at Calder, then an Allowance Optional Claiming $75,000 on December 3 at Gulfstream. It took four tries to break his maiden then six more to get the second win. His last three races have been at the Stakes level. He ran 5th in the Gulfstream Park Derby, 4th in the Sam F. Davis Stales (G3) and 5th in the Tampa Bay Downs Derby (G2). That last race was on March 10. Trainer Manuel Azpurua said his colt needed some time to rest and heel. Is that enough to think he can jump way up in class and tackle this group? I highly doubt it.

Latest Workouts:
Calder – 6/3/2012 – Dirt – 6F – 1:11.80 – Breezing – 1/1
Calder – 5/27/2012 – Dirt – 7F – 1:28.20 – Breezing – 1/1
Calder – 5/24/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 46.60 – Handily – 1/20
Calder – 5/20/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.00 – Breezing – 2/5
Calder – 5/12/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.00 – Breezing – 2/25
Calder – 5/5/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 58.80 – Handily – 1/24
Calder – 4/28/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 47.00 – Handily – 1/55
Calder – 4/21/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 58.80 – Handily – 1/13
Calder – 4/11/2012 – Dirt – 3F – 36.80 – Breezing – 2/6
Calder – 3/31/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.20 – Handily

#7 Five Sixteen – Trainer Dominick Schettino – Jockey Rosie Napravnik – 50/1
This would be a serious stretch for the local colt to compete at the highest level. Broke his maiden two back in his fifth career race. His last race was a distant 4th in an Allowance race at Aqueduct. He has yet to race in stakes company, let alone graded company. If entered, he should be the longest shot on the board.

Latest Workouts:
Belmont Park – 6/1/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:00.98 – Handily – 3/12
Belmont Park – 5/24/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:00.91 – Handily – 3/9
Belmont Park – 5/12/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 59.18 – Handily – 3/27
Belmont Park – 4/30/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.90 – Breezing – 6/9
Belmont Park – 4/11/2012 – Dirt training – 4F – 48.07 – Breezing – 2/37
Belmont Park – 3/28/2012 – Dirt training – 4F – 49.03 – Breezing – 10/53

#8 Guyana Star Dweej – Trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal – Jockey Kent Desormeaux – 50/1
The same can be said for this local horse. It took 8 tries before breaking his maiden at Aqueduct in special weight class. During his first 7 races he floated between claiming ranks and special weight. His last race was a runner-up performance in an Allowance Optional Claiming $75,000 at Belmont Park.

Latest Workouts:
Belmont Park – 5/30/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 50.03 – Breezing – 6/18
Belmont Park – 4/21/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 50.97 – Breezing – 39/62

#9 Paynter – Trainer Bob Baffert – Jockey Mike Smith – 8/1
Baffert won’t bring Bodemeister to the Belmont Stakes, leaving the only hope for the Baffert barn with this Awesome Again colt. Maybe some of his sire’s performances will come out. He did win 7 graded stakes races including the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine, Whitney Handicap (G1) at Saratoga and Breeders’ Cup Classic. Paynter broke his maiden first time out at Santa ANita in February. He ran a formidable 4th in the Santa Anita Derby in just his second career race. Just 3 weeks later, he ran 2nd in the The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. He won an Allowance race on the under card for the Preakness. He possesses early speed, so he may dictate the race. If he can get out front or near the front on moderate fractions, he might be able to hang around long enough at the end.The Belmont Stakes has favored those who come from behind. It will be interesting to see who does enter the race, and who will want to get the early lead. This colt is a wild card. He has matured with each of his four races so far. Should get a good price on him.

Latest Workouts:
Belmont Park – 6/3/2012 – Dirt training – 7F – 1:25.00 – Breezing – 1/2
Belmont Park – 5/27/2012 – Dirt training – 4F – 59.26 – Breezing – 1/38
Churchill Downs – 5/14/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 50.20 – Breezing – 17/25
Churchill Downs – 5/6/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:00.20 – Breezing – 2/6
Hollywood Park – 4/18/2012 – All Weather Track – 6F – 1:12.00 – Handily – 2/19
Hollywood Park – 4/1/2012 – All Weather Track – 7F – 1:25.20 – Handily – 1/1
Hollywood Park – 3/27/2012 – All Weather Track – 6F – 1:11.00 – Handily – 1/6

#10 Optimizer – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas – Jockey Corey Nakatani – 20/1
Not exactly sure what the plan is for this colt. After dismal efforts in five of his last six starts, running in all three triple crown races seems like a plan to destroy the rest of his season. He is not an elite horse, at least not on dirt. Lukas doesn’t have a hope or a prayer to win the Belmont Stakes. I know he is trying to set history with yet another triple crown race win, but it’s not with the horse. Lukas should bypass the Belmont Stakes and get this colt back to the turf races. He won his maiden debut on turf, then finished 2nd in the With Anticipation Stakes (G2) both last summer at Saratoga.

Latest Workouts:
Churchill Downs – 5/31/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:00.60 – Breezing – 3/19
Churchill Downs – 5/14/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 49.80 – Breezing – 14/25
Churchill Downs – 4/29/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:00.40 – Breezing – 4/10
Churchill Downs – 4/23/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 48.60 – Breezing – 6/46
Oaklawn Park – 4/9/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.20 – Breezing – 2/3
Oaklawn Park – 4/2/2012 – Dirt – 6F – 1:12.60 – Breezing – 1/3
Oaklawn Park – 3/26/2012 – Dirt – 4F – 49.00 – Breezing – 9/29

#11 I’ll Have Another – Trainer Doug O’Neill – Jockey Mario Gutierrez – 4/5
Not much else to say about this colt and his performances since returning to action in February. After missing 5 months, he has now won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita, the Kentucky Derby on May 5th at Churchill Downs, then the Preakness on May 19th at Pimlico race course. His strong stretch runs have been remarkable. He’s won at 1 1/16 miles, 1 1/8 miles, 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/16 miles. The additional 1/4 mile for the Belmont Stakes should not go against him. The only thing that has hurt horses who won the first two legs of the triple crown were injuries and fatigue. If O’Neill can keep him fresh for the next 3 weeks, he has a legitimate chance at winning the Belmont Stakes and the first triple crown since 1978.

Latest Workouts:
BetFair Hollywood Park – 4/27/2012 – All Weather Track – 6F – 1:13.80 – Handily – 7/22
Hollywood Park – 4/19/2012 – All Weather Track – 6F – 1:13.60 – Handily – 5/18
Hollywood Park – 3/30/2012 – All Weather Track – 7F – 1:26.00 – Handily – 1/3
Hollywood Park – 3/21/2012 – All Weather Track – 7F – 1:26.20 – Handily – 1/1
Hollywood Park – 3/12/2012 – All Weather Track – 1M – 1:42.60 – Handily – 1/1
Santa Anita – 3/3/2012 – Dirt – 6F – 1:10.00 – Handily – 1/4
Hollywood Park – 2/23/2012 – All Weather Track – 4F – 48.60 – Handily – 5/19

#12 My Adonis – Trainer Kelly Breen – Jockey Ramon Dominguez – 20/1
Can these connections make it two upsets in a row? Last year, Breen and the owners George and Lori Hall won the Belmont Stakes with Ruler on Ice at odds of 24/1. This year, they come in with this Pleasantly Perfect colt. He will need a pleasantly perfect race to have any chance of an upset. He broke his maiden last September at Monmouth Park, then won the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs a month later. Since then he has not won a race. He finished 9th in the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3), then 3rd in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park beaten 5 1/2 lengths. His best race to date was 2nd in the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct beaten three lengths by Hansen. He took a step backwards in the Resort Worlds Casino Wood Memorial where he finished 7th, 9 1/4 lengths behind winner Gemologist. He was beat by two necks as the 2/5 favorite in the Canonero II Stakes at Pimlico on May 5. Nothing shows us that he is able to break through with a Ruler on Ice type of upset.

Latest Workouts:
Monmouth Park – 5/27/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 59.80 – Handily – 1/31
Monmouth Park – 4/29/2012 – Dirt – 5F – 1:01.60 – Breezing – 4/16

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