Posted on 9/10/2007 9:22:56 PM

Belmont Horse Racing - Betting at Monmouth Park

By Greg Melikov

All racing eyes have switched from Saratoga to Belmont Park as the countdown to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park has started.

Two of the 36 stakes during Belmont’s 33-day fall meeting that runs through Oct. 21 will help decide the early favorite in the BC Classic next month.

First, the 119th running of the $150,000 Brooklyn Breeders’ Cup Handicap at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up gives Any Given Saturday his first crack at older horses on Sept. 22.

If he duplicates his Dwyer and Haskell Invitational victories in the Grade 2, he will become a strong candidate for Horse of 2007 during a year dominated by sophomores.

The son of Distorted Humor worked five furlongs in a sharp 59 4/5 on Sept. 8. “He was very business-like and focused in his breezes,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He enjoys his work.”

The race is named for one of the five boroughs that comprise New York City when Brooklyn and Manhattan were rival commercial centers before they merged to form NYC in 1898.

Eleven years earlier, Dry Monopole captured the inaugural Brooklyn when the purse was $5,850. A clever wine salesman capitalized on the winner’s name – the same as a brand of champagne – and furnished free bubbly to the fans.

The race was staged at several tracks over the years from Gravesend, old Aqueduct and Jamaica to new Aqueduct and Belmont Park. The distances have ranged from 1 1/8, 1 3/16 and 1 ¼ miles to 1 3/8 and 1 ½ miles.

Only four horses have won the so-called “Handicap Triple” – the Metropolitan, Brooklyn and Suburban – including the great Kelso in 1961 when the purse was $73,320. And he carried 130, 133 and 136 pounds, respectively.

The last 3-year-old to take the Brooklyn was Living Vicariously in ’93. Back in ’34, Discovery as a sophomore won the race the first of three consecutive times when the purse was only $2,925.

Four decades later, the great Forego became only the second thoroughbred to take the Brooklyn three straight years starting in ’74 when he was 4. The purse averaged slightly more than $67,000 and he carried 129, 132 and 134 pounds, respectively.

Curlin, third to Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby - winner of the Preakness Stakes and runner-up to Rags to Riches in the Belmont - is scheduled to try his luck against older horses in the $750,000 Jockey Gold Cup at 1 ¼ miles on Sept. 30.

The son of Smart Strike may not be the only winner of a Triple Crown race this year to go in the Grade 1. Trainer Carl Nafzger is considering the Gold Cup among five races to serve as the BC Classic prep for Street Sense.

Some experts say Street Sense can afford to lose in his BC prep and still can garner Horse of the Year honors by winning the Classic.

One thing in his favor – the son of Street Cry never throws in a clunker. He’s most dangerous when he lags far back off a fast pace and unleashes his explosive kick on the far turn as he did in the Jim Dandy and Travers at Saratoga.

Three-year-olds have done extremely well in the Gold Cup since Purchaser captured the inaugural race in ’19. They have scored more than once four times, with Kelso posting five consecutive victories since ’60 when he was a sophomore.

In fact, 23 have visited the winner’s circle since ’47 when Phalanx started a nine-race winning streak.

However, a 4-year-old may have something to say about the Classic outcome. Lawyer Ron has recorded a pair of eye-popping triumphs at Saratoga.

The son of Langfuhr roared home in the Whitney, breaking the track record for 1 1/8 miles. Then he exploded again in the stretch to capture the Woodward.

Come Oct. 27, it will be Lawyer Ron vs. the crème de la crème of this year’s 3-year-olds.

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