Here is my run down.....
#1 Dave In Dixie...havent seen much here and only start on dirt was sub par at best. No thanks.
#2 Spangled Star....in the money 6 of 8 but most of those game at Laurel Park. Had a good race in the Withers but was only going a mile and flatened out at the end. Never raced over a mile and a 16th. No thanks.
#3 Uptowncharlybrown...hear hes getting stronger every day and he should be up close to the lead but this distance is a real question. I dont think he wants to tackle First Dude so maybe hell sit right off the pace. Rajiv knows the track and has been hitting the board at Belmont...I cant see him winning, but maybe top 4?
#4 Make Music For Me....very interesting here, especially if the track gets sloppy. Had a lot of traffic problems in the derby and still put up his highest career speed figure in the slop. Had to make an 8 wide run in the derby, if he gets a better trip I think he can surely hit the board.
#5 Fly Down....won the Dwyer going away, and beating Drosselmeyer by 6 lengths in that one. Has 2 races over this Belmont track, getting a 1st and a 3rd. Definitely worth big time consideration and has a great jock on him.
#6 Ice Box....will be the favorite, and if the track is sloppy will be a VERY short price. I think hes in the money for sure but at such a small price, I am definitely looking elsewhere to win. He was a dead closer in the Derby and those types dont seem to win in the Belmont.
#7 Drosselmeyer....this one always seems to be let down, but he might be ready to run a huge one and is training well. Consistently in the mony (7 for 8) but what catches my eye is the jock change. Mike Smith gets on board after Kent Desormeaux was on board for 7 of 8 previous starts. I think Smith might be a bit more patient than Desormeaux and wait to make a move. He was beaten by 6 in the Dwyer by Fly Down, but he broke slow and got blocked at the 3/8 pole. I think hes got a great chance to hit the board.
#8 Game On Dude....should be up close to the lead if not on it, but I dont think hes got the stamina to go a mile and a half. Longest race was the Fla Derby at a mile and 1/8th and faltered finishing 7th, 10 lengths back. No thanks.
#9 Stately Victor....troubled trip in the Derby, like most had, but this one has a nice late kick. Son of Ghostzapper but has only hit the board in 3 of 9 races. I think hes out classed here, but it seems some like him at a price.
#10 Stay Put....I think at 20/1 he is a great horse to include in some exotics. Hes never been beaten more than 3 lengths and in the money 5 of 7. His last race was a win over the slop in the 1st race of Derby Day, and optional claimer.
#11 First Dude....an absolute monster of a horse. Seems to be getting better and better and is a very strong horse. Has a huge stride and has the ability to be on the lead where I dont think he will get much pressure because I doubt these trainers will want to go head to head with him early...he will put them away. He is a very game horse, as everyone saw in the Preakness, and if the track is sloppy, his pedigree all but assures hell love the slop. This is definitely my top pick right now.
#12 Interactif....this is my wild card. He has been training extremely well and has a jock who knows this Belmont circuit. The post position is a big downside as he will need to be taken back, but if he gets some luck along the way to washout the poor post, I think hes up in the money. Hes had bad luck of the draw, getting the outside post in some big races, but I think he is really ready to fire a huge effort.
Im throwing out 1,2,3, and 8 right now and trying to narrow it down between the rest.
