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Story by MC_Excelsior "The Stick" *STICK HORSE RACING VIDEO COMMENTARY BEING TAPED FOR IMMEDIATE PLACEMENT. Clickable Thumbnail to be placed here shortly for viewing in Windows Media Player.* Full field for Belmont shows no respect to Alex, or Giacomo. Many *New* faces to point out. We point all the Winners and Winning Angle's in our *Gold Rush* Program available starting 6/09 Thursday as Email Delivery. Program available in Instant View format 6/11 Saturday. Read our entire story below
*STICK VIDEO COMPANION TO NEWS SUPER STORY 6* : Press Here *Note - If you turn on your speakers and sound, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music with this article.* 6/16/05 - Final thoughts on 2005 Belmont Stakes The race turned into a runaway for Afleet Alex at the top of the stretch. After thinking long and hard about the race, I have to say that it was a Belmont Stakes, and it was won by the best 3 year old in the country. That being said, congratulations to Afleet Alex and his connections for a job well done. Its a sad shame that Alex was 3rd in the Derby, because he would have gone on to be a Triple Crown winner. Belmont Park proved to be a track that was very well suited for Alex's big late run. After the race, Alex's trainer commented that he will point Alex for the Haskell and Travers and then try Turf ! Very ambitious, but courageous. Alex may go on to prove he is a top turf horse. The only question to ask might be .... why ? Why run a horse on the turf if your dominating the competition on the dirt ? What would you try to gain other then to show your horse is versatile and can win on multiple surfaces ? Giacomo, the Kentucky Derby winner really ran his heart out, and was in contention for the lead at the top of the stretch. However, after giving all he had to give, Giacomo, was simply a very tired horse at the end of The Belmont Stakes. This was unfortunate for those who wanted to see an 'Affirmed - Alydar' match up coming home to the wire. Giacomo probably needs some rest, and we will see him again down the road. He gave us a Derby to remember, and as we always tell our fans, horses are not machines. Horses are living creatures who need to recover after a big athletic effort. The Triple Crown and its prep schedule of races can take a lot out of any horse, and Giacomo was probably pushed to his limit in winning the Derby, thus he 'bounced' into the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Don't give up on Giacomo just yet, he may have a few surprises later in the year for all the fans. Andromeda's Hero was a Zito horse to watch. We mentioned earlier in the week before the race that Zito had Birdstone primed and ready for the win last year. It looks like he had very high hopes for Andromeda's Hero. The only problem was that Afleet Alex truly proved to be the best 3 yr old racing right now. However, that being said, Andromeda's Hero can still be maturing, and the Belmont may have been showing us the signs that he is coming into his own, and developing into a better horse. Lets see him in the Haskell or Travers and see if Andromeda's Hero can put some big races back to back. Maiden Nolan's Cat ran a very wild race as he was off last and somehow managed to close for 3rd place. This $3.3 million purchase ran big, but I have to tell you, if they entered him in a MDN.SPCL at Belmont tommorrow at 1 1/16 mile, I would not play him at 1/9. Was his close really that good, or was the field collapsing in front of him, much the way the field did in the Preakness stretch ? Mike Watchmaker was absolutely correct, when he said(on TVG's Blinkers Off) that a tiring Scrappy T, and a near falling Alex were all alone through the stretch of the Preakness. No one could even come close to them with all the problems they had at the top of the stretch. This has to make you question the quality of the 3 yr olds this year. We know Afleet Alex is taking a lot of knocks in the press, and in chat and emails from around the country. Let me just say this...Is it Afleet Alex's fault that the 3 year old crop this year is not the strongest we have seen in recent years ? If Alex wins every time he runs, it does not make him a 'false' champion. What people need to remember is that we usually remember a horse who had been facing opponents who really put him to the test. Afleet Alex and Tim Ritchey/Jeremy Rose cannot turn around after winning by open lengths in the stretch and say bring us tougher competition. That would be disrespectful to the game and the other hard working people who are trying to develop their 3 year olds. This years crop of three year olds is just not full of multiple stars, it only has one star right now, and thats Afleet Alex. It would be nice to see Afleet Alex take on older Handicap Horses on the dirt, and take home some victories. Going the turf route is very problamatic. You have an excuse if you lose, but even if you win, you cannot make a case for Horse of the Year. At least not unless you win multiple, graded, turf stakes. Please, Mr Ritchey, you don't have to prove to us that Alex can run on the turf. Just keep him in top shape and run him into the grade 1 dirt stakes. Turf stakes are for 9 year old geldings, or European imports, not for the champion of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. You have no need to prove Afleet Alex can run on the turf, it would like taking a step down, not up with his reputation. No one remember's who won the Turf title, unless they were from Europe, but everyone remembers who was 3 year old and Horse of the Year. Even for breeding purposes, the only Turf race that will ever have any meaning is the B.Cup Mile. This race demonstrates speed and stamina. You really don't need to demonstrate that Afleet Alex can run at a distance, because he has proven himself in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes. We look ahead, and look forward to the Haskel at Monmouth Park, and the Travers Stakes - The Mid Summer Derby - at Saratoga. Lets see Alex get challenged by some tough 3 year olds who are laying in waiting, ready to run their best races. If Alex can win some tough decisions, no one will ever question his talent or ability again. Stick Chart for the Top 3 horses in the Belmont Stakes. PP# - Horse - Jockey - results PP#9 Afleet Alex *Rose* win4.30 place3.60 show3.00 PP#7 Andromeda's Hero *Bejarano* place8.20 show5.80 PP#1 Nolan's Cat *Arroyo* show7.20 Exotics : Exacta $44, Tri $1249, Super $14219 Fractional Times : 24 2/5, 48 3/5, 1 12 4/5, 1 38, 2 28 3/5
6/13/05 - Story and Video to be posted shortly. Congratulations to Afleet Alex's connections. They won big and showed they have the best 3 year old in the country. The final time for the race was acceptable, but I don't think anyone will remember this race as a standout in the context of the great horses who have won it in the past. We were very disappointed by the weak field of 3 year olds that faced Afleet Alex. Maiden, Nolan's Cat ran third and Derby winner, Giacomo, was a tired horse turning for home. A nice sized crowd of 62,000+ turned out for the big day, and we were among the many faces in the crowd. More to come on this, we are filming video for this story and have much more to say in type. Check back Monday night, Tuesday night for more information..... 6/11/05 Elmont, NY- Field Set, Entries, Last Minute things to remember from our Insiders Diary. Finally Ordering Instructions down below for our Belmont Stakes Special Selections Program. The Belmont Stakes (G1)- $1,000,000 - 1 1/2 Miles *Grade One Stakes Horses* Post# - Horse Name - *Jockey* - Morning Line Odds
The Belmont Stakes is the final leg of the famed 'Triple Crown' of Horse Racing. It stands as the final challenge, the ultimate hurdle, that will transform a top race horse into an immortal. The great legends of the sport, War Admiral, Omaha, Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed were transformed into eternal Horse Racing hero's in this race as they went on to become Triple Crown winners. The Belmont Stakes is truly the 'test of champions'. There will not be any coronation this year. there is no chance for a Triple Crown winner due to different horses winning the KY Derby and Preakness. However, that does not take away any of the excitement and challenge for this years Belmont Stakes. The distance, the large field, and the many questions about who can run this distance abound. This may be one of the most competitive Belmont Stakes we have seen in many years, Stick Fans ! Afleet Alex has now successfully captured the heart of America with his thrilling stretch run to victory in the Preakness Stakes. After almost falling head first into the ground, Alex recovered from a near tragic stumble and drove up to win , pulling away. This combined with the heart felt story of the real life little girl, Alex, whose short life was spent in a successful effort to raise awareness for childhood cancers, have made Alex, 'America's Horse'. Don't think we have lost track of Kentucky Derby Winner, Giacomo. After being completely dismissed both before and after his Derby victory, Giacomo quietly ran a huge 3rd place finish at a track foreign to him. In our minds, that 3rd place was complete vindication for him as he defeated a large number of top horses he had previously defeated in the Derby. Giacomo is a very live longshot play for The Belmont Stakes. There is no reason to discount this horse ! Other then a bad race in the Santa Anita Derby, Giacomo has been a solid runner all year long. He may not be our Top Pick, but he is in the top 4 for certain. ___________________________ To Order The Stick BELMONT STAKES *ENTIRE DAY* Special Hybrid Selections Program, ___________________________ *The Media Darlings - Part III Belmont Stakes blunders*
With newfound confidence and swagger, the main stream media will now tell you how it is a virtual lock that Afleet Alex will win in the Belmont Stakes. They will conduct their pleasant, and informative interviews, but be very misled by the powerful victory of the Preakness winner. We all remember Funny cide winning by open lengths with authority in the Preakness, only to lose in the Belmont. I'm still sad about his loss, I wanted to see a NY Bred Triple Crown winner ! Perhaps you will recall Sunday Silence being routed in the Belmont by Easy Goer. Silence had just come off an impressive Derby and Preakness score. Just because a horse wins the Preakness with power and confidence does not give him any advantage going into the Belmont Stakes. Giacomo will be pointed out as a one trick pony who got lucky at Churchill Downs. *Giacomo is in our top 4 picks* This is another classic mistake where people will try to say horses like Giacomo or others are going off form based on their performance in just one race. Classic BLUNDER ! However with that said, Risen Star certainly rode his Preakness score into a huge Belmont victory. One of a handful we can think of though. The new faces and 'dark horses' will be jumbled into a group of unknown quantity that might have some interest, but will be ignored in favor of coronation procedures for 'America's Horse'. This race will be open up so many possible longshot plays which are not based on the talent of the horses, but based on how the media portrays them to the very green betting public that comes out once a year for the Belmont Stakes. *Don't get us wrong, these are all normal and recognizable mistakes made by novice handicapper's. We have made them too when we first started following the horses. Also, Afleet Alex is a really powerful, and wonderful race horse. He deserves the title, 'America's Horse'. However, that alone does not guarantee he will win one of the most demanding and difficult Horse Racing challenge that awaits him and 11 other three year olds. The Belmont Stakes is the rubber match, the Belmont Stakes is "The Test of Champions". ___________________________ *The NEW Dark Horses - Part III Belmont Stakes new faces*
We have a large group of new horses coming in to the Belmont Stakes this year. Where do we start ? This will make our job much more demanding and work intensive for you Stick Fans. Almost 2/3 of the Belmont Field are new to face Alex and Giacomo. Lets start off with one of the few 'old' faces from the Derby. Andromeda's Hero was 8th in the Kentucky Derby at odds of 57 -1 . This is one of two Nick Zito horses in the race. Indy Storm is the other Zito trainee. If Nick Zito thinks enough of this horse and Indy Storm, its a big plus to us. After doing poorly in the Derby, most trainer's would keep a low profile and not have any ammunition to bring into a race like The Belmont Stakes. Not Zito, he not only has talent as a trainer, he has great horses in his barn. Remember last year and Birdstone ? That horse was dismissed by everyone, except us ! He won the Futurity as a 2 yr old at Belmont , and we LOVED him. What a gift we had that day, and we have not forgotten Zito was the trainer of Birdstone. Thus, do not dismiss him this year either. Woody Stephens won 5 Belmont Stakes in a row, can Zito put together a longshot streak here? Nolan's Cat, Pinpoint, AP Arrow, southern Africa, Watchmon, Reverberate, Indy Storm, and Chekhov are all new faces and dark horses for this years Belmont Stakes. This many new horses introduces so much complexity into this race, that you really have no idea where everyone is going to tumble out to for position into the first turn and down the long Belmont backstretch. We are focusing our figures on many factors, and as of this writing on Wednesday 5/08 are still number crunching for you. We expect to have everyone sorted out by Thursday night. ___________________________ *the Belmont Stakes X-Factor* Please keep in mind what we tell our fans every year....X-Factor ! Here we go again...the emails from hell...."Stick, no more, please tell us there can't be any more X-factor left in the World ! The Belmont Stakes can't have any X-Factor in it, can it ?" YES IT CAN ! Don't be lulled into a state of vulnerability at The Belmont Stakes. X-Factor is REAL ! It exists as a tangible, and real amount of matter and energy. X-Factor is what destroyed Spectacular Bid's hopes of being a Triple Crown Winner ! It also reached up and grabbed Real Quiet when he was within inches of being a Triple Crown Winner ! I still have that damn key chain they gave out on Belmont Stakes day with Real Quiet's name on one side and The Belmont Stakes on the other. The key chain was connected to an ornament shaped like a fish ! I wish he had won it, I even cheered for him through the stretch, but he fell victim to X-Factor. Do not discount X-Factor here Stick Fans. It is alive and well, and if you go to the race, you can smell it emanating from the racing surface. The distance of the race alone is an X-Factor as well. How many times in their lives have 3 yr olds run a race over one mile and one quarter ? Probably very few, if not none of them. This is an endurance race. A true physical and mental test of stamina. Even powerful race horses with strong late runs, like....Woodchopper!, were unable to get up and win. Just because you can close at a 1 1/8 mile race and win drawing off, does not mean you will have the same power after running a much further distance. Horses are living beings, they have limits, and it takes an Iron Horse(not like an Iron Chef) to gut it out through that long stretch at Belmont Park. When you think of The Belmont Stakes, think of Secretariat, think of Affirmed and Alyday, think of Easy Goer. Easy Goer was not a Triple Crown winner, he was not even a Derby winner, but he was an Iron Horse. You could set Easy Goer on cruise control and let him run around Belmont Park endlessly and I think he would just get meaner and tougher and run faster and faster. The point being that this race is made for truly powerful, talented, strong race horses. Afleet Alex may be in this class, but no matter what anyone says, he still has to win the race. In fact, it may be his race to win or lose. X-Factor question....was Afleet Alex injured in any way from that stumble and quick recovery to a full speed run to victory ? Maybe...maybe not, time will tell approximately one second after the horses cross the wire at Belmont Park in the 'Test of Champions'. ___________________________ *STICK VIDEO COMMENTARY FOR THE BELMONT STAKES* --------------------------- The Stick Horse Racing VIDEO COMMENTARY for The Belmont Stakes featuring MC live from The Stick Studio in NY. For for this exciting Stick Horse Racing VIDEO Headline Press Here-Thumbnail will be here when video available ___________________________ *PREVIOUS NEWS HEADLINES* --------------------------- The Stick Horse Racing Review of Giacomo's Big Win in the Kentucky Derby. For for this exciting Stick Horse Racing News Headline Press Here --------------------------- The Stick Horse Racing Review of Afleet Alex's Big Win in the Preakness Stakes. For for this exciting Stick Horse Racing News Headline Press Here --------------------------- The Stick Horse Racing Insiders Guide Superstory of The Kentucky Derby. For for this exciting Stick Horse Racing News Headline Press Here --------------------------- The Stick Horse Racing Insiders Guide Superstory of The Preakness Stakes. For for this exciting Stick Horse Racing News Headline Press Here --------------------------- To Order The Stick BELMONT STAKES *ENTIRE DAY* Special Hybrid Selections Program, ___________________________ TO READ OUR OTHER HEADLINES Press Here |
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