6/11 (BEL): Belmont Stakes Probables/Possibles

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

That is a ridiculous comparison. Why would someone use a mile-and-one-half classic race to develop a horse?

It would be more like: "I'm learning to play the guitar and I'll be filling in for Eddie Van Halen during Van Halen's summer tour to get some experience."

Animal Kingdom not only ran early during his 2yo year (Alternation broke his maiden in December), but he also has run in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He has a decided edge on Alternation in terms of experience, regardless of total number of starts.

So now....not only does a horse have to have run in the Kentucky Derby for it to make sense to enter the horse in the Belmont, but it also needs to have run "early during his 2yo year."
Your argument makes less sense to me the more you make it.
The horse just won a G2 race and defeated another decent Graded stakes winner in the process. You act like a horse needs to run in a certain number of races or a certain number of graded stakes races to have a shot in a big G1 race. That's just absolutely not the case in the game today.

The connections have apparently made their decision for whatever reason. It seems odd to me, but oh well. Perhaps they agree with you that it would be foolish to enter a horse in a big G1 race in June of his 3yo year because he didn't break his maiden until December of his 2yo year. If so, I think that's a pretty crappy reason.