Betting On Belmont Stakes - Tightening Down The Screws
With only days left before the 143rd Belmont Stakes the trainers of the contenders have seen them all do the heavy work, have now tightened down the screws for the mile and a half classic and online betting fans should pay attention to the final preparations.
Preakness hero and new sports betting flavor of the week Shackleford finally committed to running the Belmont after his workout last weekend at Belmont.
The Dale Romans charge was clocked in 1:00.37 for the 5 furlongs and he had his trainer nearly giddy in anticipation.
Romans: “It’s a go. As long as he comes out of the work good, he will run.”
The will be the first time since 2005 that the Derby and Preakness winner will meet in the Belmont. That year Preakness winner Afleet Alex took the Belmont while long-fused Derby winner Giacomo faltered.
Shackleford finished the last 2 furlongs in :24.26 and galloped out in 1:14.13.
It was the 13th best work of the morning at the distance but far off the :59.47 time of the best of the morning by Regal Ransom, who was just beaten a nose in a Grade 3.
Coming to major races like the 2011 Belmont betting, bettors should want the connections of prime candidates to be decisive and note be waffling about any kind of an issue.
That does not appear to be the case with the show horse in the Peter Pan, Prime Cut.
That son of Bernstein worked Memorial Day at Churchill but his trainer Neil Howard seems to be talking himself into a Belmont start.
Howard: “We’re still possible. (Owner Donald Adam), the farm manager, and I will have a conversation and we’ll probably make a decision then. He ran very well in an important prep race for the Belmont, the Peter Pan, so he has a good race over the track. But in a race like the Belmont, you don’t want to just say, ‘Yee-hah, let’s go!’ You’ve got the two obvious horses in Animal Kingdom and Shackleford, both of whom still look strong to me, and Nehro as well.”
Stay Thirsty worked sports betting bonus Sunday at Belmont in 1:00.40 and galloped out in 1:13.40. He worked in company with Illinois Derby winner Joe Vann.
He is looking to rebound from two horrible tries after winning the Gotham in the 2011 debut. He has one edge in that he ran well in his debut at Belmont and is said to be going good now.
His trainer had this to say, Todd Pletcher: “The horse is doing well and had a very good breeze (six furlongs in 1:12.12 May 29). Everything has gone smoothly since the Derby. I hope he steps up with a big performance. We’re hoping his pedigree kicks in at the quarter pole.”
What bettors should do when handicapping the Belmont Stakes this year is to look at pace as much as one would do in any other race. From there, you have decisions to make.
If Harlan’s Hello enters, he will at least muddle the pace and would expect Mucho Macho Man to be sent early on.
They will join Shackleford in the first flight and the rest of the field pretty much will have to run them down.
Speed was very potent in the Belmont for 13 years ending in 1991 but since then only 2 runners, Point Given and Da’ Tara, had the lead at a mile and continued on to win the Belmont.
