Saturday, June 9, 2012

Belmont handicap

Unstoppable U - Show
Union Rags - Show
Atigun - Show
Dullahan - Win, Place, Show
Optimizer - Win, Place, Show

Results:
Union Rags - Win
Paynter - Place
Atigun - Third

Union Rags wins. Somehow the consistent performance of Optimizer made it a last minute gamble with 15-1 odds. Dullahan got a new jockey leaving him the task of living up to his name of headless horseman. With odds of 23 - 1, Atigun made up for the rest making it into a mile and half worth watching. The shadows of Bodemeister and I'll Have Another broke into the finish line ahead of the rest vanishing in the dust of the Belmont Stakes that was meant to be.


Friday, June 1, 2012

Belmont Stakes

June 9th might be the day when another Triple Crown is born after 34 years to become number 12th in history. Too bad I never saw I'll have Another race before the Derby. He was called by at least four handicappers as the winning horse.

Bodemeister decided to skip the punishment of this race, but this is a sign that the team behind it believes this young horse deserves the Triple Crown. So they left on the basis of All or Nothing. This won't be another classic race between two rivals like Secretariat and Sham, but I'll Have Another does have the chance to become part of the history books.

A fast horse is not necessarily the winner at Belmont. Enough lessons have been learned this year to still produce an unexpected race. Dullahan skipped the second leg of the Triple Crown to come rested to the most grueling of races. Right now, Dullahan gallops around the track at New York practicing. There is a new youtube video taken by a jockey while riding on the back of Dullahan at the Belmont Stakes. Like most in this business, he calls on his horse to run in Spanglish:

"Come on papi. Let's go Dullahan!"

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I'll Have Another drops out of the Belmont Stakes race. It seems a rested horse is better than a champion. Rags and Dullahan are rested.

Bodemeister had dropped after loosing to I'll Have Another twice. Now it seems like such a mistake.