There will be no Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes as She's the Gray defeated Kentucky Derby winner Mystic Dan in the Preakness.
BALTIMORE — Even without a Triple Crown winner, the upcoming Belmont Stakes is one of the most anticipated races in horse racing history.
That's because it will be held at Saratoga Race Course for the first time as part of a two-year hiatus in upstate New York while the Belmont's longtime home in New York City is demolished and rebuilt.
“When you're in sports, you get to do these unique things, and having the Belmont in Saratoga is pretty unique for us,” said David O'Rourke, president and CEO of the New York Horse Racing Association. ” he said. “Everyone in attendance is so committed to this event and it truly is a great event. It’s hard to describe the level of excitement in the room other than the fact that everyone is giving it their all.”
That will likely include Preakness champion She's the Gray, whose telegraph victory Saturday ended Kentucky Derby winner Mystic Dan's Triple Crown bid. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lucas, 88, said Say's the Gray is likely to go.
Considering the historic nature of Saratoga's Belmont, and considering that the Belmont's long perimeter reduces the usual “Test of Champions” distance from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/4 miles; He won't be alone. Tracking. The decision was made to shorten the distance, as at that distance the race would start from a corner, potentially allowing more owners and trainers to run their horses.
“It's a completely different deal,” Lucas said. “We're going to get some new faces. We've got some guys sitting on the wings as well. I'm sure Todd (Pletcher) and Chad (Brown) will be involved with the depth in their stable. 1 I think it’s more appealing because it’s a mile and a quarter.”
Two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert also favors a move away from the long distances that 3-year-old horses and many older horses typically don't run.
“You don't want to send your horse a mile and a half,” Baffert said. “They only do it once in their life. … If it's a mile and a quarter, you're good.”
Trainer O'Rourke said the race will return to 1.5 miles when it returns to the new version of Belmont Park in 2026. Considering how much Lucas talks about his next horse, he will definitely be interested in a 2023 yearling. Belmont's return downstate.
The question now is how much the final game of the Triple Crown will resemble a Derby or Preakness rematch. Sierra Leone, trained by Brown, who finished second by a nose at Churchill Downs on May 4, may run, as may Mystic Dan.
Trainer Kenny McPeak plans to ship the Derby winner and Preakness runner-up to Saratoga, but he plans to wait a week to 10 days for a decision. Baffert on Friday appeared to rule out a shot at Moose at the Belmont because the Preakness morning favorite fell ill upon arrival in Baltimore and likely won't be able to train in time for the June 8 race. .
You'll be intrigued to attend the Belmont at Saratoga, one of horse racing's most storied venues, dating back to 1863. This field won't match the Derby's 20 horses, but it will almost certainly be bigger than the Preakness' eight.
“The Belmont field is kind of volatile and depends on a lot of other factors,” O’Rourke said. “I think it's going to be a very deep field. My prediction right now is that it's going to be a big field, but it's going to be very deep.”
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