According to Larry Jones, Mark Valeski is now doubtful for the Belmont.
http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-2012...er-possibility

Is Kent riding I'll have another?

Sorry, i couldn't help myself.

I like that.

Plus, we could watch him open up five on the turn and see what happens.

I was really looking forward to the patented Dedumbeaux move from last to first up the back stretch.

John V confirmed on union rags per privman

Union Rags is one of those horses where you really believe deep down he has to be more talented than he's shown this year, but your horseplayer/contrarian mind is more realistic in that he might just be exposed and will always find trouble and continue to burn money.

He never really was all that great in the first place.

I just don't get why every year or two there is a horse that people go gaga over for no real apparent reason. At least no apparent reason to me anyways.

Like Indian CHarlie?

No.

Now 12 for Belmont with Stealcase passing..
 

Atigun (McPeek/Leparoux)
Alpha (McLaughlin)
Dullahan (Romans/Castellano)
Five Sixteen (Schettino/Napravnik)
Guyana Star Dweej (Shivmangel)
I'll Have Another (O'Neill/Gutierrez)
Optimizer (Lukas)
Paynter (Baffert/Smith)
Rousing Sermon (Hollendorfer)
Street Life (C. Brown)
Union Rags (Matz/Velazquez)
Unstoppable U (McPeek)

I realize Union Rags may not be all that great, but he has the pedigree to get it done. Same story with Alpha. Guyana Star Dweej is one that I CAN see hitting the board at a long price. Is he sound?

Woah.

Union Rags has the pedigree to get it done? Get what done exactly? Not win the Belmont, that seems for sure.

IMO, he has a better distance pedigree than most of the field.

i wonder if it's the increasing distances. perhaps they should take him back to a mile and see what happens.

then that's quite an indictment of the rest of the field.

Yep. I'll Have Another probably has the best chance out of anyone else in recent history to win the triple crown based upon his stamina influences alone, but I'm always looking for value ... LOL.

http://www.drf.com/news/2012-belmont...l-have-another

Alpha KO'd by fever.. 11 now lined up:

Atigun (McPeek/Leparoux)
Dullahan (Romans/Castellano)
Five Sixteen (Schettino/Napravnik)
Guyana Star Dweej (Shivmangel)
I'll Have Another (O'Neill/Gutierrez)
Optimizer (Lukas)
Paynter (Baffert/Smith)
Ravelo's Boy (Azpurua)
Street Life (C. Brown)
Union Rags (Matz/Velazquez)
Unstoppable U (McPeek)

Is Rousing Sermon no longer pointed to the third jewel? I haven't seen or heard anything about his defection. Anyone have the scoop?

No posts about the weather yet?!

Elmont, NY (11003) Weather

Jun 9

Considerable cloudiness. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the low 60s.

76°F High

Mostly Cloudy

Chance of rain:10%
Wind: SW at 9 mph
Humidity:59%
UV Index:9 - Very High

I was thinking of watching history being made next Saturday at Belmont.

Does anyone know what the weather is supposed to be like on that day there?

How's that Sighty?

You need a mention of Tomlinson numbers!

As of now, excellent weather next weekend.

Im seriously shocked that BTW responded to such an obvious facetious post. Unless im too drunk (waaay wasted) to realize what's goin on.

Aiming for The Swaps on July 4th

I admit that when you say "sired by Dixie union out of a gone west mare" it doesn't scream Belmont winner. However, if you look at the dam, there is some of stamina influence in there.

I am not so quick to dismiss Rags on pedigree.

How about on ability?

How do you plan on celebrating when the Kings when the Stanley Cup?

I think Union Rags might have a better 5 furlong pedigree than anyone in the field.

His sire Dixie Union beat the freakishly fast Caller One going 5 furlongs in a razor sharp 56 3/5th debut win:

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbP...try=USA&race=5


The dam of Union Rags was 2-for-2 at six furlongs -- and failed at 3/5 odds in her lone start beyond six furlongs.

Union Rags was also sensationally fast while unblinkered at a 2yo in training sale.

I didn't know Sacramento made the playoffs.

When the Stanley Cup??

I have been against him every race this year. I bet that POS Discreet horse in his comeback. I bet TCI in the Florida Derby, and he was one of my first throw outs in the Derby. NOW, I like him in the Belmont. I think he will be on the engine in the clear with JV, get first jump. Im using him and Paynter.

Look at his second dam Terpsichorist and then look further back to HER dam Glad Rags. There is some distance influence there as she is a member of the same family as Colonial Affair who won the Belmont coincidentally. He just looks like a horse built to go further IMO. If you really look at him, he is built very similar to Northern Dancer. I could be wrong, but I don't think that he is a 5 furlong horse.

You're going back to 1965 Irish 2yo filly champ Glad Rags -- the 3rd dam of both Colonial Affair and Union Rags.

However, Union Rags is Dixie Union out of a Gone West.

Colonial Affair is Pleasant Colony out of Nijinksy.

Union Rags is bred to be extremely precocious all-around. Up close, he's best suited as a sprinter/miler IMO.

I'd load up on him in the Belmont if the race was 7 furlongs or a 1-turn mile.

Gone West mares have produced offspring capable of winning at all distances. If he was built like a sprinter/miler, I might be willing to toss him aside, but he's not.

kent desormeaux picked up guyana star dweej for saturday. i'm nominating that name for worst ever.

PRIVMAN: Looking for back-to-back wins in the Belmont, Kelly Breen & the Halls considering entry of My Adonis Wednesday..

Couldn't agree more...Kent is a ridiculous name.

i have to tell you, that took waaay longer than i thought it would!

Can we nominate Union Rags' 2nd dam's name? Terpsichorist.