NYRA just sold out of these.  I bought the table of 10 before the preakness for $350 each (NYRA jacks it from 350 to 650 each when they know the triple crown is on the line).  The pass gives you access to the entire grounds included the clubhouse and grandstand, all the beer and wine, gourmet buffet, private betting windows and private bathrooms...all overlooking the paddock.  About the only place at The Belmont where you get some privacy and not a mob scene.

I just found out that my clients cannot go...thus, I am willing to sell it for $400 a piece just to get rid of it to someone who can take the whole table...a little higher if I have to piece mail it.  I have gone to the Belmont about 15 times or so and this is the absolute best way to go in my opinion (especially if it is hot and humid or raining).  The Garden Terrace gets way too crowded for my taste and the a/c can be shaky and those are going for $800 to $1,500 a piece.

Can\'t see Southern Image bouncing...believe he\'ll win by a pole and is best older horse in country, check him out in the paddock, this horse carries his weight real well and believe we have not seen the best of him yet...very suprised to see how many people like Peace Rules in this race...may actually catch a decent price (AGAIN!!!) on Southern Image for the last time...public has let this horse go off overlay prices in each of his races.  Look at his line...even money in SA Hndcp was a gift against that field of rats...2nd choice vs. Dynever???, did a double take when I saw the odds in that one.

Have a feeling we will see plenty more of Smarty...his owners have already turned down the blank check and if he comes out of the Belmont OK I think we\'ll see him 3 or 4 more times this year.

Gotta believe he will stack up very well against older horses...still think a mile and a quarter is not his best distance, but will be super tough at a mile and an eight.

No Clubber Langs out there.

I did post on this board that Smarty would lose the Belmont...I never would have thought it would be Birdstone to do it and my rationale was completely off...I thought it would be RHT, but Smarty came up huge in defeat to anyone that truly appreciates sports.

Anyway, his performance made me a believer as he was much more impressive in defeat than I could have ever imagined...kinda reminded me of Rocky...the Philly boxer actually lost his first bout for immortality and won over the hearts of the public...I believe that Smarty\'s performance will attract more \"true\" sports fans to horse racing than a win would have.  The \"true\" sports fan appreciates great efforts and that is what Smarty provided.  Besides, how could a Philly think they were going to clinch a title in NY, the world might have collided with an asteroid or something.

If he had won...yes, there would have been way more fans attracted to horse racing, but I believe these would have been \"bandwagon fans\"...and while that would have been interesting to see...maybe, it is best that I do not have to wait on line to get a bet in because some \"dude\" wearing sandals and a walkman is calling off $2 to show on \"the gray horse with the pink silks.\"

Things happen for a reason.

Smarty\'s chances of winning this race are clearly good...the payout will be horrble...you can argue his chances are between 20% to maybe 70%, yet you payout will be 10% max...believe me, this horse will be POUNDED ON at the windows...his chances are NOT 90% or better as his odds will indicate...look eleswhere and cover yourself with $2 souvenier tixx that you can sell on ebay for 20 bucks that next day...easy money all around...and yes I do think breeding is a factor in this equation...RHT is brewd for it Smarty is NOT end of story...i realize how brilliant Smarty has been thus far and he may continue to freak...whats that old saying, a fool and his money...thnik VALUE, VALUE, VALUE for this years Belmont and it is not Smarty and it not keying him on top and hoping for the rest to suck up second.

THe Smile and Elusive Quality breeding is going to get to this animal at 12 furlongs...the mud helped him in KY and Rock Hard Ten was not helped by his pre-gate antics and besides the Preakness was a PREP for this horse that looks and is bred to be the Belmont winner.

Oh yeah, here\'s the best part...Smarty is going to have so much sentimental money on him that he very well may be 1 to 9...very max will be 1 to 5...that makes Rock Hard Ten like 7 to 1 or higher...I give Rock Hard a better than 60 percent chance to pull this off...VALUE, VALUE, VALUE!!!