Reliving the 2007 Belmont

The Belmont has been a place of happiness and heartbreak for me personally. There was when Funny Cide finished 3rd behind Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted in the 03 edition and when Birdstone passed Smarty Jones to deny him the Triple Crown in 04. Afleet Alex turned my frown upside down when he won the Belmont in 05 after his amazing recovery in the Preakness. Jazil, while impressive, really didn’t grab my attention except for his young jockey Fernando Jara when he won in the heartbroken 2006 edition (What I liked about ABC’s coverage was that they had Jeremy Schap at New Bolton with Barbaro and he was basically “watching” the race). However my favorite Belmont to date is the 2007 edition. Or as I like to call it: Curlin (and the rest of the field of course), get beat by a girl.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness that year where amazing races. Street Sense became the first Breeder’s Cup Juvy winner to win the Kentucky Derby winner with a rail skimming ride by Calvin Borel (And as we now know, that wasn’t the last time we would see “Bo-Rail” win the Derby). The Preakness was the end of the chance at a Triple Crown when future 2 time Horse of the Year, Curlin nailed Street Sense at the wire. This set up the chance of Curlin’s coronation at the Belmont. However, that was not meant to be.

Enter Rags to Riches, Jazil’s little half sister. By 1992 Belmont winner AP Indy out of the Deputy Minister mare Better Than Honour (Jazil is by Seeking the Gold), Rags won the Kentucky Oaks the day before Street Sense in the Derby. Many thought that she could have won the Derby, but trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Coolmore had Circler Quay in the Derby. Well Circler ended not doing not only in the Derby, but the Preakness as well. As plans where made for Rags to skip the Belmont, her jockey Garrett Gomez agreed to ride Hard Spun replacing Mario Pino.
Regular Pletcher rider John Velazquez was able to get off his mount when it was decided that Rags was going to run. Garrett Gomez wanted to ride her, but Larry Jones didn’t let him out of his commitment. I think you know what happens next, Rags and Curlin hook up at the stretch and Tom Durkin announces those now famous words: “A Filly in the Belmont!” Here is a video of that magical day.



Here are what the first four finishers are doing 2 years later.

Rags to Riches (1st): The Belmont turned out to be her final win in her career. While she finished second in the Gazelle behind Lear’s Princess, she suffered an injury that ended her career. She had a Giant’s Causeway filly this year (And if you see photos of her she’s is her mother’s daughter), Rags is currently in foal to Henrythenavagator.

Curlin (2nd): The Belmont would be a turning point in his career. He came back to finish 3rd in the Haskell, win the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeder’s Cup Classic to get Horse of the Year for 2007. In 2008, his owner Jess Jackson, brought him back and made his first two starts in Dubai. These two races where the Jaguar Trophy and the Dubai World Cup. He came back to win the Stephen Foster, finish second in the Man O War on grass, and win the JCGC for a second time and break Cigar’s all time NA earnings record (It should be noted that the actual NA record holder is Skip Away, both Cigar and Curlin’s earnings are inflated due to going to Dubai and winning the ultra rich World Cup). He would finish his career finishing 4th in the BC Classic behind Raven’s Pass, Henrythenavagator and Tiago. He now stands at Lane’s End in Kentucky, his first crop hit’s the ground next year.

Tiago (3rd): After finishing third in the Belmont, Tiago would become more successful then his older Derby winning half brother Giacomo, by beating older males in the Goodwood. His owners announced that he would be standing at Adena at the end of his racing career. He is currently in training, but has not run since February.

Hard Spun (4th): The Belmont was the only time in his career that anyone not named Mario Pino was on his back. He finished behind Any Given Saturday in the Haskell, afterwards a change in distance was made. While successful as a router, he had the speed to stay with the sprinters, and with a stallion deal with Darley set, it was his best chance to get that G1 win. The King’s Bishop up at Saratoga was the choice. Although several nice sprinters, including Tuefelsburg who handed Hard Spun his first defeat in the Southwest. Hard Spun sat right off the pacesetter Spin Master and took the lead as they where going into the final turn. It was down to him and First Defense, however the gutsy PA bred prevailed. After getting his revenge on Street Sense at Turfway (He had finished second in the Derby), he wrapped up his career in the Breeder’s Cup Classic with a solid second place finish behind Curlin. He now stands at Darley in Kentucky and many consider him to possibly be North America’s Danehill(ironically they share a sire in Danzig).

I hoped you enjoyed this reliving of the 2007 Belmont. I will have the Post Positions tomorrow (I think they get drawn tomorrow), of the G1’s on Saturday (including the Whittingham out at Hollywood).