Post Time for the Belmont (~ RAYMOND)

Quickly, here are my picks for the card… I posted my win selections over at the TBA homepage along with the other TBA picks. I put a straight pick 6 ticket on those selections as well. No doubt Swifty and I will be playing some pick 4s and 6s together.

I’m going with Thor’s Echo returning to form and Benny the Bull regressing a bit. I also like Suave Jazz and a little bit of Council Member!

I think Bayou’s Lassie will have the pace her way and takes them wire to wire, or Lady of Venice and/or Bit of Whimsy come on. I love Criminologist but don’t think it’s enough distance for her.

Now that Dance Gal Dance is out, I think Indian Blessing will probably go wire to wire, but I still like Zaftig and Game Face.

What a field! I love both Shakis and Stream of Gold in here. Out of Control is a logical choice too, particularly since he stumbled in the stretch last out. Proudinsky looks dangerous as well as he does well off a freshening as does Better Talk Now winning on his return from an abysmal effort aboard last year. I think the pace is not going to be to Dancing Forever’s liking and I loved Pays to Dream’s last out but the turf was really soft as was the pace. I’ll probably play a little Stalingrad and Strike a Deal across the board too.

Obviously I’m bummed about Casino Drive but I am looking forward to seeing what looks to be a Triple Crown. I’ll be wheeling BB over several in supers, most likely most if not all of Tale of Ekati, Denis of Cork, Macho Again, Anak Nakal, Guadalcanal and Icabad Crane.

Good luck to everyone, enjoy your day and let’s get everyone home safe!!

Posted by dana on Jun 07 2008    
Filed Under: Indian Blessing, Benny the Bull, TBA, Raymond Haddad, Casino Drive, Anak Nakal, Denis of Cork, Tale of Ekati, Criminologist, 3yo, Thor's Echo, Belmont, Retirement Watch, Triple Crown, Handicapping, Turf, Belmont Stakes, Racing

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Big Brown in the shadow of last year’s winner (Sarah K. Andrew)

My remaining handicapping just got easier.

As Swifty said last night on the phone of Casino Drive “if anyone can do it…”

Posted by dana on Jun 07 2008    
Filed Under: Sarah K. Andrew, 2008, Big Brown, Casino Drive, Injury, Belmont Stakes, Belmont, Grrrr, Triple Crown, Racing

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Casino Drive works American style at Belmont (Sarah K Andrew)

I was just perusing flickr and found this note by Sarah interesting…

The Japanese connections of Casino Drive have a very cool way of working with their horses. Every morning, Casino Drive is tacked up around 5:30am. He and two other stable mates walk around the entire backside, picking up speed throughout their 45 minute walk until they are doing a verrry strong power-walk.

Then they walk the horses to the paddock to get them used to it for race day. Then they jog or gallop on track, depending on their training for the day. When they are done, they go back to the stable area and walk for another 45 minutes… first briskly, then they slow them down.

I’m no horsewoman, but who are we to think that only our way of working horses is appropriate? Clearly they’re doing something right!

I’m also intrigued by the maiden entry, Guadalcanal. You can’t do much better than Javier Castellano right now either. He’s currently 21% at Belmont and giving great rides to long shots all over the place, most notably Brookhaven’s Money this past Sunday in the 3rd, the Spectacular Bid in the NY Stallion Series.

I like owner/trainer Fred Seitz’s attitude:

He was bred for a route, he trains like he will want a route, and there are not many opportunities to race against 3-year-olds at 1 ½ miles. If we are on the board, we will be happy.

He’s got a point regarding mile and half opportunities!

Denis of Cork, Take of Ekati, Anak Nakal, Icabad Crane and Ready’s Echo are all of interest to me too, mind you, I haven’t really looked too closely yet.

Ah yes, and in case you were wondering about the Big Brown One, you can always look here for Big Brown’s Belmont Odds!

Posted by dana on Jun 04 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Sarah K. Andrew, Big Brown, Casino Drive, Anak Nakal, Denis of Cork, Workouts, Maiden, Triple Crown, Belmont, Belmont Stakes, International Racing, Javier Castellano, Racing

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Casino Drive visits with the kids of Anna House, a day care center for backstretch workers (Sarah K. Andrew)

I’m way too tired to do much of any posting (again) tonight, but this one is for Brooklyn Backstretch as she is a tireless supporter of BEST and the Belmont Childcare Association.

According to Sarah, the kids even sang him a good luck song!

Update: here’s another angle from Jessie Holmes.

Posted by dana on Jun 03 2008    
Filed Under: Sarah K. Andrew, Casino Drive, 3yo, Belmont Stakes, Belmont, Triple Crown, Racing

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Big Brown’s little white spot (Charles Pravata)

I think Joe Drape’s sneak peak of the Belmont under card over at The Rail is what did it. Damn, that’s one fine looking under card!

Benny the Bull, Thor’s Echo and Kelly’s landing? Bring it! Not to mention, Thor’s Echo!!! Bayou’s Lassie, Criminologist and Sharp Susan? J Be K and Majestic Warrior? Indian Blessing, Sherine and Zaftig? Einstein, Better Talk Now and pretty much the whole field of the Manhattan? I’m ready to start handicapping now!

As news of all the Belmont contenders trickles in, it’s also hard not to excited about the Belmont as well. Big Brown foot issue is a non-issue, Prado gets the mount on Casino Drive, Garcia gets the mount on Tomcito, Tale of Ekati made Tagg crabby, Denis of Cork is fresh and working incredibly well, Gomez get the mount on Macho Again, Ready’s Echo is in and Anak Nakal is working well.

Last year was my first Belmont as a fan, and as a New Yorker you know I was there! Swifty and I were marveling at how incredible it would be for our first two Belmont’s to be of the historical variety. Since Swifty is the luckiest man alive I think it’s a distinct possibility, I mean let’s forget Big Brown for a moment, it’s really all about Iavarone, Swifty!

Posted by dana on May 29 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Benny the Bull, Thorn Song, Sharp Susan, Indian Blessing, Big Brown, Einstein, Anak Nakal, Denis of Cork, Casino Drive, Criminologist, Majestic Warrior, Barclay Tagg, Belmont, Retirement Watch, Fans, Belmont Stakes, Edgar Prado, Charles Pravata, Alan Garcia, 3yo, Racing

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