Belmont Stakes Betalicious lock!!

as would i going by his pedigree and dosage.

[miraja2]

"Someone remind me of the last dead closer to win the Belmont..."

Afleet Alex was something of a closer and he won it easily last year. He was sitting well back through the first mile.
I think stalkers and closers have about an equal chance in this race, and the key is just who can get the distance. Aptitude and Wolf Power were both good horses at distances beyond 9 furlongs, so I definitely think Steppenwolfer will run a strong race. He just isn't a horse that wins races however, so I think he'll probably finish second or third.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by miraja2

"Someone remind me of the last dead closer to win the Belmont..."

Afleet Alex was something of a closer and he won it easily last year. He was sitting well back through the first mile.
I think stalkers and closers have about an equal chance in this race, and the key is just who can get the distance. Aptitude and Wolf Power were both good horses at distances beyond 9 furlongs, so I definitely think Steppenwolfer will run a strong race. He just isn't a horse that wins races however, so I think he'll probably finish second or third.

Afleet Alex...that was a good horse. He was a prince among them last year. He towered over last year's crop of three year olds, and was much the best.

[Buffymommy]

Victory Gallop

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

Victory Gallop

Yeah that is true. He was definitely a closer. I think Afleet Alex was a closer too, but for some reason his connections did not realize that until his final two races.
Rose rode that horse in the Derby like he was on Smarty Jones when he should have acted like he was on Strike the Gold. The horse was so classy that he still managed to hit the board, but if he had been allowed to close we probably would have had a TC winner last year.

[Buffymommy]

AA was more of a stalker. If I am remembering correctly he sat a couple (maybe five or six off the pace) during the Belmont. I consider a closer all the way back or one or two from the back.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Yeah that is true. He was definitely a closer. I think Afleet Alex was a closer too, but for some reason his connections did not realize that until his final two races.
Rose rode that horse in the Derby like he was on Smarty Jones when he should have acted like he was on Strike the Gold. The horse was so classy that he still managed to hit the board, but if he had been allowed to close we probably would have had a TC winner last year.

I agree. He should have an asterik beside his name. He was good enough. His Preakness Stakes move before the incident with Scrappy T was legendary. You will probably hear that a hundred more times from me. I couldn't get enough of that horse last year.

[Kasept]

Understand one thing... Steppenwolfer won't HAVE to be a closer here... The decidedly slower fractions up front early allow him to KEEP close.

Pietz hadn't asked the colt for much all along the way through KY, and NOW has him tuned tight. Owners M/M Low would dearly love to get a stallion profile out of Steppenwolfer, and this is their shot. I tend to agree right now with Paul... Steppenwolfer runs a big, big race... (Though I wish there was a different rider aboard...)

[Suffolk Shippers]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Afleet Alex...that was a good horse. He was a prince among them last year. He towered over last year's crop of three year olds, and was much the best.

I agree with you here Roses. If you ask me it's a shame he couldnt grab the Derby and I really think he may have if that glorified quarter horse, Spanish Chestnut was not in the race. That and he ran late down the rail, which was dead that afternoon.

Not to mention, the horse had such a great backstory, and so many emotional connections. Call me a sap, but that stuff makes this game great, too!

Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers

I agree with you here Roses. If you ask me it's a shame he couldnt grab the Derby and I really think he may have if that glorified quarter horse, Spanish Chestnut was not in the race. That and he ran late down the rail, which was dead that afternoon.

Not to mention, the horse had such a great backstory, and so many emotional connections. Call me a sap, but that stuff makes this game great, too!

It was stuff of which movies are made.I loved this horse like no other.His Preakness will forever remain unforgettable.
I finally thought I had his successor in Barbaro and,of course, another tragic dissappointment.Eish there was someone on the horizon to get that excited about.
As for this year's Belmont, I'm thinking High Finance for the reasons mentioned above, but also, Sunriver.Pletcher seems to like him a lot and the Peter Pan could have been a perfect prep for the Belmont.