Legends of the Track: Rivals Had a Different View of Secretariat's 73' Belmont, McPeek backing Mystic Dan to be suited by Saratoga, Andy Serling's Belmont Stakes Preview + ZJ's Turf Race of the Day!
Saturday Edition - June 8th, 2024 (Edition 110)
Good Morning and Happy Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Racecourse!
Today marks the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes, but this year comes with a twist. Due to renovations at Belmont Park, the race will take place at Saratoga Race Course for the first time ever. Normally held in Elmont, New York, Belmont Park is undergoing a $455 million makeover to improve track surfaces and build a modern, smaller grandstand.
This shift in venue isn't just a change of scenery. Belmont Park is famous for its marathon 1½-mile distance around the largest racing oval in America. In contrast, today’s race will only cover 1¼ miles, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby.
Although we won't see a Triple Crown winner in 2024, with different horses winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes still promises plenty of excitement. The race kicks off at 6:41 p.m. ET. 11:41pm in the Uk and Ireland.
And what better way to celebrate than by reminiscing about the greatest Belmont Stakes performance ever? We're looking back at the legendary 1973 race through the eyes of the jockeys who faced Secretariat. Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. sums it up perfectly: "I saw his tail the whole way."
Laffit Pincay, who rode Sham, the 5-1 second choice who was viewed as the main rival for the dual classic winner but suffered a career-ending leg injury and finished last by a little more than 45 lengths, noted."I never saw a performance like that before and I probably won't see one again, Secretariat was something special. He was the best."
What I am wagering on? ZJ Turf Race of the day, The G1 Manhattan Stakes.
What I am listening to? Nick Luck Daily - The Saturday Edition
And a bit of trivia to test your knowledge: Can you name the British Racecourse where racing first began in 1782 at a site in Chatelherault, situated just outside the town?
Enjoy a fantastic day of racing!
Riders Up!
Steve
The Belmont Stakes:
Rivals Had a Different View of Secretariat's Belmont
Twice a Prince (inside) and My Gallant battle for second behind Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park
Jockeys in 1973 Belmont recall the helpess feeling of chasing a Triple Crown winner.
Racing fans of all ages are probably familiar with the sight of Secretariat rocketing through the stretch of the 1973 Belmont Stakes (G1), wrapping up a Triple Crown sweep with a lopsided 31-length victory.
It was a scene showing Big Red of Meadow Stable, with no other horse in the same area code, motoring toward the finish line with an army of frenzied fans waving, jumping up and down, and screaming about the majestic sight they were observing.
Yet Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. had a much different view of a moment that has been frozen in time.
"I saw his tail the whole way," he said.
Cordero was one of four jockeys who played supporting roles in one of horse racing's greatest spectacles. He, along with Laffit Pincay Jr., Braulio Baeza, and Dan Gargan, who died in 1975, rode the four horses who tried in vain to run with Secretariat 50 years ago in the Belmont and are footnotes on a day at Belmont Park when no one was a worthy challenger for the overwhelming favorite.
"I never saw a performance like that before and I probably won't see one again," said Pincay, who rode Sham, the 5-1 second choice who was viewed as the main rival for the dual classic winner but suffered a career-ending leg injury and finished last by a little more than 45 lengths. "Secretariat was something special. He was the best."
The stage was set for Secretariat's historic romp a month earlier when the reigning Horse of the Year rebounded from a shocking third-place finish in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) and won the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) in what would be ultimately recognized as track-record times.
Pincay came into the Triple Crown believing he could defeat Secretariat with Sigmund Sommer's Sham, who finished second in the Wood and won the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
"In Kentucky I thought we could beat Secretariat," Pincay said. "Bold Rulers had a reputation for not going a mile and a quarter and Sham beat him in the Wood Memorial. So I thought my chances against him were really, really good."
Secretariat's 2 ½-length victory over runner-up Sham in the Run for the Roses ended those thoughts.
Two weeks later, in the Preakness, Secretariat made a bold, last-to-first move on the first turn and still managed to beat Sham by 2 1/2 lengths once again.
"In the Preakness, he ran a race in which he had an excuse if he lost, but he didn't," Pincay said.
Read the Full Article at bloodhorse.com
Watch the 1973 Belmont Stakes - The actual footage of Secretariat's record breaking win during the third and final race of the 1973 Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.
Belmont at Saratoga:
McPeek backing Mystic Dan to be suited by Saratoga
Kentucky Derby winner chasing Belmont Stakes honours.
Kenny McPeek feels Mystik Dan’s chance of a second Classic success has been boosted by the transfer of the Belmont Stakes to Saratoga this year.
The final leg of the American Triple Crown is usually contested over 12 furlongs at the New York track, but with renovations of the venue continuing apace, the race will not return to the Elmont course until 2026.
Switching the event to Saratoga in New York state means the race has had to be clipped to 10 furlongs, but McPeek sees that as a positive for his surprise Kentucky Derby winner, along with the different surface.
He said: “If we were at Belmont, we’d be going a mile and a half, and everybody knows his nickname ‘Big Sandy’. I think that would’ve been difficult for my colt.
“He’s not a really big horse. He’s a modest-sized horse, very well balanced, well made. But I thought that the deeper Belmont would’ve been maybe less interesting for me. But the fact that Saratoga, at a mile and an eighth racing surface, and this race is run a mile and a quarter, should suit him.
“Well, of course, he’s won at a mile and a quarter already. And I think he’s capable of doing it again here.”
Read the full article at attheraces.com
The Acorn at Saratoga:
Top of the Class: Thorpedo Anna Rolls in Acorn
Thorpedo Anna wins the Acorn Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Just after watching his Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna roll to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Kenny McPeek was all smiles awaiting her arrival into the winner's circle.
"Could have run her in the Belmont," he said with a laugh, referring to the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) June 8 at Saratoga.
Most agree she would have fared well there, though the trainer understandably chose to sit the final leg of the Triple Crown out, knowing he has Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Mystik Dan for the Triple Crown finale. That classic, which, like the Acorn and other Belmont Stakes Festival races, is at Saratoga this year due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park.
Without an apparent rival to challenge her in the 3-year-old filly ranks, she seemingly has the credentials to face male rivals at some point.
"We'll see. I'd like another Alabama first," McPeek said, referring to the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) Aug. 17 at Saratoga.
Read the full article at bloodhorse.com
Race of the Day:
ZJ's Turf Race of the Day
Today John’s 'Play of the Day', comes in the Saratoga's 11th race, the G1 Manhattan Stakes. #6 Al Riffa ships over for Joe O'Brien after just missing in a close finish at Longchamp in his first start of 2024. Al Riffa runs very well 2nd off a layoff and there nobody else in this field that could warm up Ace Impact, nonetheless get within a length. Rolls.
John has been handicapping thoroughbred horse races and picking winners at Saratoga and beyond for 30 years. Grass racing is his true specialty, He’s developed his own style of finding Double Digit Turf Winners.
Good Luck!
Folllow all of ZJ’s selections at pick4win.com
Belmont at Saratoga:
Andy Serling's Belmont Stakes 2024 Preview
Watch the full show on YouTube.com
Podcast of the Day:
Nick Luck Daily - The Saturday Edition - Ep. 125
With the Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg on the Triple Crown, being run tomorrow, Charlotte Greenway recaps on interviews with NBC's Matt Bernier previewing the field and breeder of the second favourite, Larry Johnson.
Then, with Haydock Park the feature meeting in Britain this weekend, George Boughey, Charlie Hills and Jack Channon discuss their best chances.
Where on Earth?
Can you name the British Racecourse where racing first began in 1782 at a site in Chatelherault, situated just outside the town?
By 1785, the course had three racing fixtures and staged jump racing until 1907 when the course was closed. In 1926, racing moved to their current location.
To find the answer visit Steve’s Twitter/X page and scroll through the comments
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Riders Up!
Best, Steve