A Saturday at 'Big Sandy' aka Belmont Day 2019

One Hundred Years ago in 1919, Sir Barton (the horse) won the Belmont Stakes after taking the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes almost a month earlier just days apart, completing what would later be considered the first Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred Racing.

So, a century later, the Triple Crown Racing Season draws to a close, and while there is no coronation of a 14th Triple Crown Champion in the offing , that still doesn't deter the ten horses entering the gate for today's Belmont Stakes. The Thrill of winning one of the American Classic races that make up the American Triple Crown is still a big lure, and the $1.5 Million in purse money is also a good incentive.

While the Triple Crown Trophy sits idle this year, the blanket of White Carnations will be draped over the winners withers at the end of the mile-and-a-half run, The Legendary 'Test of the Champion'. There still is history to be made today, and Great Father Pegasus and the Court of History are now convening above Belmont Park and the mile and a half oval race track know as 'Big Sandy'.

The first is could Master Fencer become the first Japanese bred horse to win one of the American Classics? Odds say 'neigh' but his fans on both sides of the Pacific would love to see the pink hooded, foreign born colt achieve a majestic first.

The second, is that War of Will has competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown, winning the Preakness in his last outing, and has the distinction of being possibly the key horse in the Kentucky Derby Disqualification as it was he who was the first horse cut off by Maximum Security coming out of the turn into the home stretch. Rider Tyler never raised an objection in that race and WoW finished in 7th there. Could he become a 'lost' Triple Crown winner here with a win in the Belmont?

The third involves the legacy of this handsome fella, Tapit, who has sired three of the last five Belmont Stakes winners.

Image from Bloodhorse Magazine.

The ones in the last five years he didn't were the two Triple Crown Winners, American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Justify (Scat Daddy).

So today, if one of Tapit's three sons (marked with a * below) takes the Carnations, that would tie a very old record for the most Belmont wins by a sire, with four. How old is said record? It's held by a stallion named Lexington, born in 1850, and the record dates from Duke of Magenta's (dang that sounds like a 'Pony' name) win in the 1878 running of the race. Lexington's other Belmont winners are: General Duke (1868), Kingfisher (1870), Harry Basset (1871). Tapit's three (sounds like a title for a Pony 'heist' story) are Tonalist (2014), Creator (2016), and Tapwrit (2017).

So here's the board of ten runners as it sits:

1 Joevia; Rider - Jose Lezcano; Trainer - Greg Sacco; Record: 5–2–2–0; Odds: 17-1

Inspite of coming off a Win in the Long Branch Stakes May 12th, Joevia has been beaten by other runners present in the Belmont, and that was in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial where he placed 11th. Perhaps more of a Sprinter than a Stayer, definitely the longest odds to face 'The Test of the Champion' this year.

2 Everfast; Rider - Luis Saez; Trainer - Dale Romans; Record: 11–1–2–1; Odds: 14–1

Placed well in the Preakness three weeks ago behind War of Will, maybe the extra distance will prove beneficial, maybe not. Having previously been beaten twice by Bourbon War and with only a Maiden Special Weight debut win keeps the odds against him here.

3 Master Fencer; Rider - Julien Leparoux; Trainer - Koichi Tsunoda; Record: 7–2–2–0; Odds: 11–1

Japan's entry to the American Classic (Triple Crown) Series this year is a fan favorite whose colors look like something out of Game of Thrones (House Bolton). His two victories were both in Japan and it makes data a little hard to source. Can he, can't he? He was 6th in the Kentucky Derby, I'd expect a shot at the board but a win would be a surprise.

4 Tax; Rider - Irad Ortiz Jr.; Trainer - Danny Gargan; Record: 6–2–2–1 Odds: 10–1

One of the runners with both experience in and a Graded Stakes level win in the G3 Withers, he also placed 2nd behind Tacitus in the G2 Wood Memorial. Can't quite justify the 10-1 myself. This could be the long-shot of favor in this run.

5 Bourbon War*; Rider - Mike Smith; Trainer - Mark Hennig; Record: 6–2–1–0; Odds: 8–1

His main claims here are bloodline (Tapit) and a G2 placing in the Fountain of Youth, he finished 8th in the Preakness, and there's two-and-a-half furlongs farther to run today.

6 Spinoff; Rider - Javier Castellano; Trainer - Todd Pletcher; Record: 5–2–1–1; Odds: 11–1

Todd Pletcher has done well at the Belmont, but Spinoff may not be the trainer's best offering. Spinoff was 18th of 19 runners in the Kentucky Derby, his last start, never having missed the board prior. Big bounce back perhaps?

7 Sir Winston; Rider - Joel Rosario; Trainer - Mark Casse; Record: 9–2–1–1; Odds: 8–1

Ah, the Canadian Connection, Mark Casse, and a bloodline that runs directly to Northern Dancer. He showed in his last outing in the G3 Peter Pan on May 11th. He's also lost to Tacitus and Tax on previous occations.

8 Intrepid Heart*; Rider - John Velazquez; Trainer - Todd Pletcher; Record: 3–2–0–1; Odds: 6–1

Back to Todd Pletcher and Tapit, with a 3rd place show behind Sir Winston in the G3 Peter Pan as an offset his two wins. This is a colt that looks to make a statement. (He also has the most 'Pony' name in the field I think)

9 War of Will; Rider - Tyler Gaffalione; Trainer - Mark Casse; Record: 10–4–1–1 Odds: 7-2

Here we get to the favored 'Big Boys'. Canadian Trainer Mark Casse and a direct decedent of Northern Dancer again. War of Will sports four wins in ten starts, including the G1 Preakness his last time out. He's also the sole runner to challenge each leg of the Triple Crown.

10 Tacitus*; Rider - Jose Ortiz; Trainer - Bill Mott 5–3–0–1; Record: Odds: 5-2

Third in the Kentucky Derby, Mott opted to skip the Preakness to focus on the Belmont's mile-and-a-half distance. Tacitus's bloodline says 'Yes', his training says 'Yes', his results in 'The Test of the Champion' are all that matter.

A note to the undercard, an escapee from horse racing's 'bush league' of claiming races, Escape Clause,
photo: Assiniboia Downs Twitter Feed

is set for a rematch with the 'racing royalty' born Midnight Bisou,

photo: Kentucky Derby Archive

coming off their to-the-wire finish at the G1 Apple Blossom in the G1 Ogden Phipps. On the line is a $700,000 purse and a berth into the Breeders Cup Distaff in November.

So that's what I've got for this Triple Crown 100th Anniversary edition of the Belmont Stakes.

Until the Trumpet Sounds

"May Great Father Pegasus keep watch over his mortal Children as they compete for Glory in his Honor, and see them and their riders home safely."

Sir Barton (One Old Racehorse, 1919 Belmont Stakes winner, and 1st Triple Crown Champion)