Worked a Mile in 1:39:3 over the weekend. That\'s pretty strong. Has anyone heard anything about how he is doing?
Also if the Pace in the Wood was so fast that it was a detriment to Social Inclusion why was it not a major advantage for Wicked Strong? Or did he just win on Class!
In his workout video he looked good and Jerkens is telling the media he is doing fine.
I believe W.S is the biggest threat to C.C to winning the triple crown.
Social Inclusion after working numerous 3f works has no stamina yet and has been short on every track outside the highway they call Gulfstream.
Social Inclusion is my #1 toss in the Belmont.
Good Luck
According to DRF, Jerkens worked Wicked Strong on the training track rather than
the main track, thinking that WS would work too fast if sent to the main. He
worked the first half in 49.97 and finished in 49.60.
The training track strategy may have backfired a bit because DRF comments that WS
was under \"mild encouragement\" in the final stages of the work, meaning Jimmy
Jerkens might have given the exercise rider instruction mid work to pick it up a
bit.
From what I can gather the horses who have made the best impression training up
to the Belmont are CC and Ride on Curlin. ROC has really gained my respect in
terms of the way he has trained throughout the Spring and obviously after his
good Preakness effort. Oh so hard for me to like ROC to win this race based on
the fact that he has never won past six furlongs.
ROC looks to join Point Given and Afleet Alex as the only Belmont winners since
2000 who raced in both the Ky Derby and the Preakness; CC of course eligible to
join this group. Of the current Belmont possibles, four runners: Commissioner,
Matuszak, Matterhorn and Tonalist look to join Sarava, Rags to Riches, D\'Tara,
Ruler on Ice and Drosslemeyer as the only Belmont winners since 2000 not to
compete in either of the Derby or Preakness. Average mutuel on Belmont winners
who skipped both Derby and Preakness: $62.00.
More factoids: Of the 14 Belmont winners since 2000, 11 have run a new top in
taking the Belmont; Empire Maker, Afleet Alex and Union Rags were the ones who
did not.
The average mutuel for all Belmonts run since 2000: approx $36.00; throw out
Afleet Alex at 6/5 and Sarava at 70/1 and the average mutuel is still a healthy
$31.00.
Heard on TVG (and even they admitted the non relevance (for many reasons) of this
factoid), the accuracy of which I can not verify: All Triple Crown winners raced
at Belmont at least once before winning the Belmont Stakes
You really can\'t bet on WS until you see how he acts in the post parade, and see how he is going to load into the gate. He was a mess at the Derby loading, and still ran ok. If he gets his head together, he may run even better, but you\'ll have to be on line with your finger on the trigger to bet as he loads.
Richie,
Recently Ruler on Ice, Summer Bird, and Rags to Riches were Belmont winners with no previous races on the Belmont surface.
smalltimer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Richie,
> Recently Ruler on Ice, Summer Bird, and Rags to
> Riches were Belmont winners with no previous races
> on the Belmont surface.
Small:
Triple Crown winners, not Belmont Stakes winners. Again, more an oddity than
anything else.
Agree with the above as well as S.I.
Just wondering how so many are sure that a grandson of a Belmont winner with classic pedigree on the female side will not be able to negotiate the Belmont distance. Praying more think like you about SI.
Good Luck,
Joe B
Any theories on why SI is rumored to go in 7F Woody Stevens which is beginning to look like a special race if the rumors and probables pan out.
Wicked Strong? Hard to be sure he can or can\'t go Belmont Distance. Those who speculate for sure he can\'t probably influenced by having watched Hard Spun performances.
One thing that does stand out is - he\'s erratic.
When it comes to the races it is difficult to be 100% sure about anything. However, when it comes to SI he has not proven himself to want more distance yet. He retreated in the Wood the last 1/8th and then did the same in the Preakness. He is either not as talented as many thought or his trainer needs to put some bottom into him by training him further than 3-4 furlongs.
SI has not proven to be the superstar some expected (not me) after the GP race. Although 3rd in the Wood & Preakness is solid. I now do believe he is a real raw talent with eccentric connections.
I\'ll theorize he goes in the Woody Stevens unless CC doesn\'t get to go in the Belmont Stakes. IMO, SI will add more interest to the Woody Stevens than he would to the Belmont Stakes. But I\'ve become enamored with the sprint and his presence in the Belmont will surely affects the pace scenario and create related concerns.
Wicked Strong is coming up to the Belmont with two straight solid efforts that seems to be a recurring theme over the past decade or so. Ran a negative number in the wood, can\'t toss.
Social Inclusion seems like a better fit for the 7/8 woody stephens.