Over/Under Belmont Field Size?
 

Seven ? I'm just asking....

I will take the over....I couldnt tell you who possibly the new shooters could be at this point...
This looks like a legit TC threat.....Till bodie goes wire to wire.

I think Bode doesn't go to the Belmont. I just hope they don't retire him. But I'll still take the over.

Jeff Siegel (HRTV) says Paynter a Preakness possible...Union Rags, Dullahan...that's four...Does Zito have anything lurking in the wings? I think I'm going with the "under" (mind you, I made the "line" so not sure if I can pick)

Last Three TC Field Sizes

1973 - 5
1977 - 8
1978 - 5

So much for the "good ol days" of great big field sizes

At least Union Rags will take some $. I'll Have Another will be the favorite for the first time in his racing career but he won't be 1/5.

I think you will get at least 8. Things are different now, people will run truely hopeless horses just to say they had a runner in the triple crown.

"For What it's Worth Dept. ...
Here's rundown of last 3 Triple Crowns of # horses defeated by TC winner

1973 Secretariat - KD Beat 12 horses; Preakness-4; Belmont-4 TOT=20
1977 Seattle Slew - KD-14; PS-8; BEL-4; TOT=26
1978 Affirmed - KD-10; PS-6; BEL-4 TOT=20

2012 IHA - KD-19; PS-10 TOT (so far) = 29

Might be the last Grade I race he runs in if he keeps running "95's" (Union Rags, that is)

any fillies that can fill some spots?

That is doubtful, unless he is retired.

Ok...

I'll Have Another, Dullahan, and Union Rags are in.

I think Baffert/Zayat will enter Paynter in the Belmont instead of Bodemeister.

Does Hansen try? Prospective?

What about the top 2 or 3 from the Peter Pan- Mark Valeski, Right to Vote, and Street Life

Does Asmussen get crazy and contemplate entering Isn't He Clever?

I think there will be over 7

dont forget optimizer. Lukas is on a Graded stakes win high after today

Ugggh... Send him to the turf already

yes baffert already said bode won't run in belmont

FROM LEFT FIELD: If no one but IHA entered, would walkover qualify as winning Triple Crown?

FROM PADDOCK: Vanity drives TC field size now. So, I would take OVER.

FROM WINNER'S CIRCLE: I have been Bode-DNB supporter who is now on-board IHA express. IHA looked like he could have gone an additional 3/16 today and no one would have closed into him. Might the TC drought finally end in 21 days?

Oh, there will be a lot of guys contemplating running, but with Belmont's purses so juicy, and Saratoga coming soon, if you have a really good horse, dont ruin him (or her) just to "enter" the Belmont, with little or no chance of winning.

Just thought it would be "fun" for something to think about this week before the REAL madness starts, and I will take the "under" to keep my losing streak alive

Last Five Attempted Triple Crown Field Sizes

1999- 12
2002- 11
2003- 6
2004- 9
2008- 9

O/U at attendance - 100,000

counting the horses?

YES!

I'D SAY 150+

Looks like 13 are expected according to DRF.

Lukas will try anything he can to get Hamazing Destiny and Skyring in as well as Optimizer, there has to be a loophole somewhere :)

Here's the rundown of possibles for the Belmont

Optimizer - Eligible for a N1X
Paynter - 0-2 in graded stakes; big fig win courtesy of very slow pace
Alpha - Trounced in Derby
Atigun - Just won N2X with 89 BSF
Dullahan - 0-4 on conventional dirt
Five Sixteen - Eligible for N1X
Guyana Star Dweej - Eligible for N1X
Mark Valeski - Perfect trip Peter Pan winner
Rousing Sermon - 0 for last 7
Stealcase - Eligible for N1X
Street Life - Listed stakes winner over former claimer; lifetime top BSFS of 92
Union Rags - Lifetime top BSF of 95. Serial excuse finder.

But yet history is against I'll Have Another lol. You'd like to think, just like in Smarty and Big Brown's situations that he'd be able to win this race easy. But some horse will really make him earn it

Big Brown failure was a proof there is a God...

Smarty Jones really got a suspect ride from Elliott and was hard race ridden by Stevens(Rock Hard Ten) and Bailey(Eddington) who both had zero left in the lane, but seemingly achieved their personal goal of taking the race to Smarty early.

Shouldn't the connections of IHA make sure their jock gets a few trips around that big effing oval before Belmont Day to make sure he has a chance to get the hang of it? It is thoroughly unique in the US.

They made sure he rode at Churchill and Pimlico, so they certainly will do the same at Belmont. Likely to see him on some Hennig (longtime with Reddam and 'Another' in his BEL barn) horses I'd imagine leading up to Saturday.

Stevens rode Rock Hard Ten in the Preakness, but Alex Solis had the mount in the Belmont and went after Smarty.