As the Triple Crown’s remaining and most brutal leg, the 2017 Belmont Stakes will bring its fighters, and us, pretty some assessments today. But one fact has been properly confirmed in the short, tough weeks for the reason that Kentucky Derby, specifically, that the three-yr-olds comprising the Class of 2017 began out as a late-blooming, choppy, lightly-raced, patchwork organization of young Thoroughbreds, and that they have stayed that way.
We’ll see what the money says as post time rolls closer to us – and we’ll update the chances all day. But it is crucial at the start of the day to understand that the cutting-edge 2017 Belmont preferred – typically a designation of great honor bestowed by the New York oddsmakers – has been granted on Irish War Cry, who prompted a multi-horse collision at the spoil in the Kentucky Derby and ran a disastrous tenth. That bears repeating: the cutting-edge Belmont Stakes favorite ran 10th in the Kentucky Derby. That’s rare.
But earlier than we carry our very personal Kentucky-bred sage, the Bluegrass Wise Man ™, onboard to make sense of this forbidding creating a bet landscape, first, the early Saturday odds
Twisted Tom, 8-1 (20-1)
Tapwrit, five-1 (6-1)
Gormley, eight-1 (8-1)
J Boys Echo, 10-1 (thirteen-1)
Hollywood Handsome, 19-1 (30-1)
Lookin at Lee, 5-1 (five-1)
Irish War Cry, three-1 (7-2)
Senior Investment, 7-1 (13-2)
Meantime, 13-1 (15-1)
Multiplier, 15-1 (10-1)
Epicharis, SCR (4-1)
Patch, eleven-1 (12-1)
*Updated Saturday, June 10, 6:28 pm
The Triple Crown Class of 2017 has left Belmont gamers wandering bootless through a form of exploding volcanic panorama, in which the guideline has been: if a colt someway won favor by winning a leg of the Triple Crown, or at some moment inside the final six weeks were preferred, then, by way of definition, he would be extracted from going for walks in this 12 months’ Belmont. Within the 149 years, the Belmont has been run, the opposite has typically been the case.
Today’s volcanic amusement will be preserved because the wagering adjusts to the early Saturday morning news that Epicharis has been scratched from the race after failing his veterinary exam. The Japanese horse had lameness in his right front hoof, leaving a field of eleven.
With that in mind, it’s still crucial to note that the racing stewards have not reduced the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes purse, so there’s nevertheless a hotly contested horse race to be run this afternoon. How to play it’s another question. Herewith is the Bluegrass Wise Man.
Let’s begin by revisiting Twisted Tom and his connections, for example, one of the bricks in a unique play.
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Twisted Tom is worth considering, and it is clear from the cash that oldsters are thinking about Castellano, his perfect jockey, and his teacher, Chad Brown. Who wins? Brown is ideal for spotting horses and putting them in the right places where he thinks they can win. It does not rely upon what the sphere seems like; no trainer is doing the Belmont idly.
Yes, the Belmont is a step up in competition from the Maryland races that that horse has gained. It’s a shot Brown’s taking. However, it’s a shot he’s the concept about. You must appreciate something those men are bringing over. Brown wins large races on race days. Like any train in another sport, scheduling your athletes wherein you think they could win part of the task. Brown’s no longer here these days to waste a race. I assume that is what the cash’s wondering behind that horse.
Let’s pass back to Meantime, Senior Investment, and Gormley. Great exotics fodder, right?
Bluegrass Wise Man ™: Maybe even more than that. First, Gormely is going to take some cash today. I think I can be one of the top 3 on the tote. He did properly at Santa Anita; however, he became 2nd in a terrific showing in the race earlier than that. He’s like Irish War Cry, or perhaps even the equivalent of Irish War Cry, taking part in the Derby preps and the Derby, even though the odds are not announcing that. Senior Investment ran well in the Preakness if you can figure, old-school, that the Preakness can be used to set up the Belmont.
He has been in one of the pinnacle races, so he has it under his belt. Maybe. But he hasn’t gained a ton of races, either. Meantime ran second in the Peter Pan, great prep for the Belmont, so he’s raced the song, although at a mile-and-an-8th. While he was beaten 3 and a half lengths, it became a solid race. He’s well worth a bet because he’s had an awesome run over the tune; however, until now, he hasn’t been squeezed hard racing-wise. Today, he could be.