Belmont Post Positions

I don’t believe that post position is usually much of a factor in the Belmont; while in theory Big Brown could get boxed in behind traffic from the 1, he should have enough natural ability to overcome such adversity.

However, the strategy in the Belmont often seems to be to get the favorite to run all out from the start — just ask Smarty Jones. Either scenario is possible, but Smarty Jones also faced a field with more depth to it (even if you believe the talents of some those horses might not have been employed in a strictly sporting fashion) — Big Brown may only have one or two horses in this field who can stay with him for very long.

So, without further ado, your Belmont contenders:

1 Big Brown – Putting his connections and his quarter crack aside, bad racing luck is his major enemy. He has had a charmed existence so far, but the best horse certainly does not necessarily win in this race (see Bid, Spectacular) – it’s his to lose.

2 Guadalcanal – A maiden in the Belmont – call Kenny Mayne! Allegedly he wants the distance, but I see others crossing the wire ahead of him.

3 Macho Again – Nice to see that Julien Leparoux Garrett Gomez has picked up the mount; he’s talented, and strange things do happen in the Belmont.

4 Denis of Cork – I really like how he’s been training lately — I would love to see him maintain double-digit odds. I’ll say no more.

5 Casino Drive – The real potential history-maker in the race, and not just for his dam – seeing a drug-free, foreign-trained horse win the Belmont would send a useful message to the industry.

6 Da’Tara – Is he a rabbit for Anak Nakal? Sure, Nick Zito is dangerous in the Belmont with longshots, but I don’t think this is the one.

7 Tale of Ekati – His last workout was better, but I don’t like how he had been working out up to that point. I like the bottom half of his pedigree a lot more than the top at this distance.

8 Anak Nakal – He’s done nothing all year to warrant any attention — no question. However, his recent workouts have been good and his pedigree is ideal for the Belmont. Maybe he’ll finally get it together – I will include him in exotics and will probably bet him to place and show.

9 Ready’s Echo – Another one whose pedigree seems to be half sprint, half route; he could round out a superfecta, or he could finish ninth.

10 Icabad Crane – I think he is likely running for second, and I can certainly see him hitting the board.