The Final Leg

This is it! The final leg of this year's Triple Crown takes place tomorrow at Belmont Park. Who will win the mile and half race? Lets take a look at the field.

1. Master of Hounds
2. Stay Thirsty
3. Ruler on Ice
4. Santiva
5. Brillant Speed
6. Nehro
7. Monzon
8. Prime Cut
9. Animal Kingdom
10. Mucho Macho Man
11. Isn't He Perfect
12. Shackleford

Post postion doesn't really matter in this race, but Shackleford with his running style got a little bit screwed. I want to like Master of Hounds, if he had stayed in the US for the 5 weeks inbetween races, but he went home to Ireland. Ruler on Ice's half sister won the Acorn last year, but that was a mile. Monzon's owner won the BC F/M Turf and has a Belmont winning sire, but he's not a Motion trainee like his ownershipmate is. Prime Cut and Stay Thirsty might challenge Shackleford for the lead, and Belmont tends to be speed bias on the big day. Mucho Macho Man does get a key jockey change, but I think he deserves a rest. Keep in mind, while all Thoroughbreds turn a year older on January 1st, his real birthday is not until this upcoming Weds. If he does win, he will break the tie that Northern Dancer and Lookin at Lucky have for the youngest TC race winner (both of those two champions share a birthday May 27th). Why is Isn't He Perfect in this race? Brillant Speed does not have a good dirt record, but having Dynaformer on top and being from the same female family as Belmont winner helps. Santiva seems to be a bit of an enigma for me personally.

So who is my pick? I think it's between four horses, Shackleford, Animal Kingdom, Stay Thirsty and Nehro. In the end I think that Ahmed Zayat will have something to be very happy about. I'm going with Nehro as my Belmont pick. Shackleford for second and Stay Thirsty for third. Now go watch Mucho Macho Man win (and I'll be happy if he does, since well this Triple Crown has been a stink on ice for me).

If it rains, then Brilliant Speed and Master of Hounds move up big time. Turf horses love muddy tracks.

Good luck to all the horses, and stay safe!

Also in action tomorrow is Havre de Grace in the Obeah, as long as the weather is corporating, I will be in attendence. It's not going to be a easy race for her, but she should get the win to setup a showdown with possibly Awesome Maria, Blind Luck, Unriveled Belle and others in the DelCap.

Gio Ponti makes his US seasonal debut tomorrow as well in the Manhattahn while Get Stormy is in New Jersey this weekend for a UN prep.