Posted on 6/6/2007 2:44:46 PM

Horse Betting - No Triple Crown on Belmont Day

By Mike Dempsey

Curlin deprived us of a possible Triple Crown by Street Sense in the Preakness Stakes and the Derby winner is skipping a trip to New York. However, that’s no reason not to look forward to Belmont Stakes Day this Saturday.

In addition to seeing Curlin take on Hard Spun in the 139th running of the Belmont Stakes, there are 12 other races on the Belmont Park card, with five other graded stakes.

There is a $1 million Guaranteed All-stakes Pick 6 on races 6-11 and a $1 million Guaranteed All-stakes Pick 4 on races 8-11.

As of Monday, seven horses are listed as definites for the Belmont –- Curlin, Hard Spun, Tiago, Slew’s Tizzy, Imawildandcrazyguy, and recent additions Time Squared and Digger.

Todd Pletcher will announce on Tuesday his intentions with his talented filly Rags to Riches and Circular Quay.

Digger was recently purchased by Larry Roman and turned over to Richard Dutrow. The gelding was previously trained by Phil Schoenthal and his last start was a runner up finish at Charles Town against Alw-3L foes.

Patrick Biancone added Time Squared to the list of definites for the Belmont. The colt beat Alw-1 Company in his last start on May 18 at Arlington Park. The colt has tired stakes company twice in his career, a seventh place finish in the G3 Sham and a sixth place finish in the G1 Blue Grass.

Regardless of who shows up for the Belmont Stakes, it is still going to be a tremendous day for horseplayers playing the Belmont Park card on Saturday.

Here is a quick look at Saturday’s stakes action:

Race 6 (3:08 p.m.) – Grade 2, $200,000 True North Handicap

Contested at six furlongs on the main track, sprinters likely to be entered in the True North will include Bordonaro, Council Member, Joey P., Sir Five Star and Will He Shine. The Todd Pletcher-trained Keyed Entry is possible.

Race 7 (3:46 p.m.) – Grade 2, $300,000, Just A Game

Wait a While, who was the three-year-old filly champion of 2006 will likely be the heavy favorite. She will face Karen’s Caper, Mauralakana, Meribel, My Typhoon and Take the Ribbon. The race is contested at one mile on turf.

 

Race 8 (4:25 p.m.) – Grade 2 $200,000 Woody Stephens

Some of the top three-year-old sprinters in the nation will line up for the Woody Stephens, run at seven furlongs on the main track. Among those being pointed for the race are Bustin Stones, Deadly Dealer, Hobbitontherocks, Not for Money, Sports Town, Teuflesberg and possibly Stormello, Adore the Gold, Bill Place and Xchanger.

 

Race 9 (5:04 p.m.)– Grade 1, $250,000 Acorn

Christmas Kid, winner of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland heads the field of three-year-old fillies in the Acorn. She likely will face Karen’s Caper, Mauralakana, Meribel, My Typhoon and Take the Ribbon.

 

Race 10 (5:44 p.m.) – Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap

English Channel will be the likely favorite in the Manhattan, which is run at 1 ¼ miles on turf. The race is going to have a deep and talented field, likely including Better Talk Now, Cosmonaut, Grand Couturier, Interpatation, Kiss the Kid, Mustanfar and Steppenwolfer.

 

Race 11 (6:25 p.m.) – Grade 1, $1,000,000 Belmont Stakes

Is Curlin the true superstar many think he is? Can Hard Spun turn the tables? Can the filly Rags to Riches beat the boys? Can Slew’s Tizzy step into tougher company and win his third race in a row? Will Tiago improve off his seventh place finish in the Kentucky Derby?

 

In order to take home some of the guaranteed $1 million pools, we need to find out the answers before Saturday.

Keep checking the Locker Room all through the Triple Crown season, as we will cover the trainers, horses and jockeys in each race. You can get your early Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook in the Future / props section, under Horse Futures: 2007 Belmont Stakes.