6/9 (BEL): 144th Belmont S. (G1), 5 Undercard Stakes
 

6th (2:34) Easy Goer S.

1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Bridge Loan Dominguez R A 119 L
2 Romancing the Gold Velazquez J R 119 L
3 Politicallycorrect Gutierrez Mario 119 L
4 Skyring Nakatani C S 123 L
5 Brimstone Island Perez X 119 L
6 Teeth of the Dog Rosario J 119 L
7 Sensor Castellano J J 119 L
8 Fast Falcon Alvarado J 119 L
9 Inflation Target Garcia Alan 119 L



7th (3:15) True North H. (G2)

6 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $400,000

1 Pacific Ocean Rosario J 117 L
2 Crossbow Dominguez R A 115 L
3 Smiling Tiger Smith M E 119 L
4 Hamazing Destiny Nakatani C S 117 L
5 Royal Currier Maragh R 116 L
6 Giant Ryan Martinez W 120 L
7 Caixa Eletronica Castellano J J 117 L
8 Justin Phillip Velazquez J R 115 L



8th (3:59) Longines Just a Game S. (G1)

1 Mile (Turf) | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $500,000

1 Tapitsfly Dominguez R A 120 L
2 Sylvestris (IRE) Smith M E 118 L
3 Wallis (GB) Lezcano J 118 L
4 Winter Memories Castellano J J 120 L
5 Hungry Island Velazquez J R 120 L
6 Dancinginherdreams Nakatani C S 118 L
7 Up In Time (GB) Rosario J 118 L



9th (4:43) Woody Stephens S. (G2)

7 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $400,000

1 Hierro Leparoux J R 123 L
2 Hardened Wildcat Castellano J J 123 L
3 Il Villano Flores J L 123 L
4 Brian Gutierrez Mario 117 L
5 Bourbon Courage Napravnik R 117 L
6 Trinniberg Martinez W 123 L
7 Power World Prado E S 119 L
8 Isn't He Clever Velazquez J R 123 L
9 Currency Swap Maragh R 121 L
10 Laurie's Rocket Nakatani C S 119 L



10th (5:37) Woodford Reserve Manhattan H. (G1)

1 1/4 Miles (Inner turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $500,000

1 Omayad (CHI) Rosario J 117 L
2 Boisterous Garcia Alan 119 L
3 Al Khali Smith M E 117 L
4 Desert Blanc (GB) Dominguez R A 114 L
5 Papaw Bodie Napravnik R 116 L
6 Brilliant Speed Velazquez J R 119 L
7 Hudson Steele Castellano J J 117 L
8 Top Surprize Espinoza J L 114 L



11th (6:40) Belmont S. (G1)

1 1/2 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $1,000,000

1 Street Life Lezcano J 126 L
2 Unstoppable U Alvarado J 126 L
3 Union Rags Velazquez J R 126 L
4 Atigun Leparoux J R 126 L
5 Dullahan Castellano J J 126 L
6 Ravelo's Boy Solis A 126
7 Five Sixteen Napravnik R 126 L
8 Guyana Star Dweej Desormeaux K J 126 L
9 Paynter Smith M E 126 L
10 Optimizer Nakatani C S 126 L
11 I'll Have Another Gutierrez Mario 126 L
12 My Adonis Dominguez R A 126 L

Here's my column for the newspaper if anyone is interested.

http://www.goerie.com/article/201206...ng-immortality


Should be an exciting race to watch. I picked Dullahan to win mainly on the basis of value and because I think he's going to get enough early pace and I expect far turn pressure for all of his chief rivals -- as I'll Have Another, Paynter, and a less passively ridden Union Rags all have similar running styles.

Doug good work.
Any undercard thoughts?

I haven't done any real handicapping work at all on the undercard yet -- but here are some thoughts:

Race #2: The solid 1 is a first-time starter out of a Dehere mare.

Race #4: I'll Have Another is not even the most expensive 3-year-old son of Flower Alley from the OBS April sale on this card! The #6 horse Ruthless Alley -- trained by Rodrigo Ubillo -- sold for $42,000 at OBS April.

Race #9: Hardened Wildcat (12/1 on the ML) is dangerous and should get a piece.

Race #10: I like Desert Blanc quite a bit. That aside, I can't remember seeing anything like the win odds on Omayad's form. He won all of his first six races by clear margins ... and went 7-for-7 to start his career without ever being sent off at odds of even money or less. That's freaking rare.

Race #11: I think Unstoppable U bit his tongue last time. He won despite appearing to be bleeding from the mouth... I don't think I've ever seen a horse debut on March 31st of their 3yo season and race in the Belmont.

Race #13: Unless Vol Jack says Sneaky Kitten is the best thing since sliced bread, play against her this time.

Nice article.

Loved the $10 win parlay stat. Incredible!

He said Sneaky Kitten is the goods. TIFWIW

Thanks. I will be all over him 3rd time out.

That was a very entertaining read!. Some of the major racing publications could use your articles...

Good Stuff Doug.

I was just a kid in 1979 so I don't remember, but the trials of Ronnie Franklin seem very interesting. I couldn't find any, but does anyone know if there were any books written about Franklin's ordeals? I'm guessing the chapters about that TC campaign would be a pretty good read.

http://www.amazon.com/Spectacular-Bi.../dp/1581500572

Read this last year, not too much Franklin but a great read.

Thanks. I saw that a while ago and didn't purchase it. I just have never really gotten into the lore of Spectaular Bid (don't know why). But the more I hear and read about him, makes me think that I eventually pick it up.

Thought this horse ran a very big race in his lone turf try and think he's a very likely gate-to-wire winner at a big price. . . also with you on Desert Blanc.

I'm interested to see how Pacific Ocean runs. He could be a force in the sprint division this year.

Seriously, DrugS--you are now the big fish in the small pond.

Nice job, Doug! I know that I can't really envision the quarter example made by Jones. Unfortunately, I can't sqeeze my butt cheeks and hold a quarter there while running, but I am confident from seeing her recent Vanity Fair photo that Chantal can. Maybe Chantal can do all of us horse players a favor and demonstrate that concept on video so we can get a better understanding of that injury.

Hey Nick I'm anxious to see your picks for Saturday. You've been rolling along pretty good.

I appreciate that. I won't get to look at it seriously until tomorrow night after I cap Friday Night Wood but will try to put a few ideas up.

F'n Degenerate.............:rolleyes:

That is not the half of it. The girl is going to Montauk for her business partner's bachelorette party tomorrow. Friday Night Wood is just the start. After the Belmont on Saturday I have to cut straight out to AC to the Borgota for my business partner's bachelor party. The degeneracy is likely to reach new heights this weekend. :D

And this guy wasn't in Tampa because???

Life is good!!

That's fine work, Doug. I'm sending the link to our local sports editor to boost his feelings of inadequacy.

Bourbon Courage is my lock of the day.

(You all have been warned. Bet accordingly).

Check it out, a great read...Did you know that The Bid ran 7 in 120 4/5 as a two year old, and later that year he won 3 grade 1 races ant 3 different tracks in a 3 week period, setting a track record for 1 1/16 in that 3 week span, that still stands today.

$21.80 to place and got beat a nose for the win. Nice call.

Threw a couple bucks to win on him, and boxed him with the wrong horses....Nice call anyway....

Had the exacta a few times, but that was pure evil. Worst beat I've had in a looong time.

Nice bounce back from the Derby.

Nice job.

well, what do you know? didn't think union rags had it in him.

Why didn't smith shut off the rail?

Who knows, he should have put the winner into the rail, Pval or Pincay would have.

Because I had the super for 30 cents with Paynter on top. Had the doubles. Also was covered with Atigun on top for everything.

It's because this sport is soul sucking. Having to be happy for others who are life and death to get the fan favorite home.

Booo.

He was clear and the outside horse wasn't going to get by.

I think he described it well -- he didn't want the stewards to decide the outcome. Horse vs. horse.

All you need to know about the race is that Atigun lost by only two lengths.

I went nuts at the top of the stretch when it looked like Atigun was the one. Bummer.

Does the figure in the Belmont really mean much in general? Its on odd distance and race, it would be hard for me to think a horse is superior because he ran faster than average in this race, or slower for that matter, and the third place finisher being a few lengths back does not mean much either.

We know just as much now as we did before the race, that Paynter is a talented developing colt and Union Rags is one of the better horses in this crop.

And IHA would have beat both if he had been in it.

What this race proves is that there are multiple trainers out there who are more interested in seeing their name in the program/form of a Classic race than doing what is actually best for their horse....

IHA would have crushed these. Paynter ran well and should have won. I don't think the diehard Union Rags supporters should feel any sort of vindication for his Derby loss. He is no better than the third best 3yo this year.