Belmont Stakes on 2 weeks rest

[jerry]

Conquistador Cielo did it on a little over 1 weeks rest but aside from that, has anyone run, let alone won with a horse on less than 2 weeks? There are 3 of them this year. Auto toss?

[belmont3]

Bimelech for sure.

AT the time, (1940)  this was the biggest upset in Derby history.
The KD was his 3rd race in 8 days!!
 
His jockey Smith (was F.A. and not Mike) took Bimelech Wide for the entire trip losing by 1 1/2 lengths but earning a better FIG.

Then, he won the Preakness followed by the Withers and then the Belmont!

Here\'s alink:
 

http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/bimelech.html

[SoCalMan2]

jerry Wrote:
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> Conquistador Cielo did it on a little over 1 weeks
> rest but aside from that, has anyone run, let
> alone won with a horse on less than 2 weeks? There
> are 3 of them this year. Auto toss?

I am pretty sure that Conquistador Cielo did it in under a week\'s rest.  If my recall is correct, he won the Met Mile on Monday (Memorial Day) and then won the Belmont on the Saturday later that same week -- 4 days off in between races.

I am pretty sure that Gulch ran in the Met Mile and then raced back decently in the Belmont.

When Conquistador Cielo did it, I remember thinking that it wasnt such a crazy move....while I cannot put my finger on it, I felt like there was a fair amount of precedent of horses running in the Met Mile and then the Belmont. Some years that would be 4 days off in between and other years it would be 11 days off.

The Met Mile used to get plenty of three year olds and the handicap weight spreads were much wider in those days (NY Law mandated that the high weight be assigned 126 lbs or more in a handicap).  I used to love handicapping with the big weight differentials because the weight can make a difference and a ton of handicappers ignore it -- with 3yos running against older in May.....it produced interesting situations we do not see anymore today.

So, let\'s see, old law was -- Handicap highweights must be assigned at least 126 lbs, new law is that if a trainer smokes pot, all his entries must be scratched.  Maybe I am crazy, but it seems like our laws are getting less sane.

[jerry]

I\'m with you on handicaps. Loved those weight spreads. Enchumao (apologize for the spelling) going at like 103 to Forego\'s 134. Bring them back and I promise to bet more.