Kentucky Derby Preview Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

We’re just about ready for the 131st running of the world's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, which will be run on May 7, 2005 at Churchill Downs. Last weekend, April 16 & 17, we concluded the final Derby prep races and it’s the first time in recent history that we don’t have a clear cut favorite due to the amount of truly talented 3-year-olds from a single year’s crop. Once again, there will most likely be a full field of 20 horses breaking from the starting gate, but regardless of how many 3-year-olds actually run in this years Run for the Roses, we can reduce the full field down to only 7 true contenders who have the pedigree, and ability, to find their way to the Winner's Circle on that first Saturday in May!
1) Afleet Alex is the most consistent colt of the lot. He has now finished first or second in 8 or his 9 lifetime starts, with a lung infection causing his only poor effort, in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. While he is the most consistent, he is has the least pedigree power (Northern Afleet, out of a Hawkster mare) of these seven contenders on his side, including his east coast trainer, Tim Ritchey, who is far less know then the rest in this group. Don’t give up on him just yet, Ritchey is a solid trainer and his colt will enter the Kentucky Derby off an 8-length win in the $1 million dollar Arkansas Derby and missed winning the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile last November by less than a length!
2) Bandini has shown the ability to relax and rate off the leaders, which is an essential quality when racing at the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles, in his past two races. The last was a sensational 6-length victory in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. That race was full of possible Derby contenders, including High Limit, Sun King and Consolidator and Bandini has now won 3 of 5 career starts. He has already won twice at 1 1/8 miles and this son of Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prosperctor), is out of a Dixieland Band mare and will have no questions about getting the distance. New York based trainer Todd Pletcher paid a hefty $500,000 for this colt and has a true contender in his barn.
3) Bellamy Road shocked some of the public when he romped by 17-lengths in the Wood Memorial on April 9, but he won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park by 15-lengths in his previous start! In fact, he has now won 4 of 5 career starts, and has been a true stakes caliber animal since he began his career. After breaking his maiden in his debut while never being asked to run, he immediately won a stake in his next start. Sure, some may knock that performance since it was at River Downs in Ohio, but he defeated a quality field that day, including Scipion, a multiple stakes winner that has since won the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Distance won’t be a problem for this son of Concerto (Chief’s Crown) who’s female side hails from the Vice Regent line through his Dam’s father, Deputed Testamony. He’ll be the likely Derby favorite as he’ll head to Kentucky with a 120 Beyer speed figure under his belt and trainer Nick Zito in his corner.
4) Blues and Royals was purchased by the Godolphin racing stable for $400,000 at the Keeneland sale and immediately began his racing career in Great Britain, and then Dubai. That alone makes the Florida bred son of Honour and Glory (Relaunch) the least recognizable name to the public. Just like Bandini, he is also out of a Dixieland Band mare and bred to run all day. While I don’t agree with his connections only racing him once as a 3-year-old before running in the Kentucky Derby, his only race of 2005 was extremely impressive. Returning from a 6-month layoff, he added blinkers and raced on a dirt surface for the first time in his short four race career, only to defeat a 12 horse Grade-2 field by a stunning 12-lengths! His pedigree suggests that he’ll be better on the dirt then the turf, and that dirt debut may have proved it. While he may not be ready to win the Derby off of just one prep race, this colt will knock heads with the best of his generation.
5) Greeley’s Galaxy has now won four consecutive races after capturing the Illinois Derby by 9-lengths while earning a Beyer speed figure of 106. This son of Mr. Greeley (Gone West), out of an Ascot Knight mare might have the best endurance pedigree of this group, and is peaking at just the right time as he’s been prepping under the radar out at Santa Anita in California. He defeated solid fields while breaking his maiden and first allowance condition at Santa Anita. While the public may consider him a notch below the top Derby prospects, we really don’t know how good he is since no horse has been within 3 ½ -lengths of him since his debut!
6) High Fly has done just about everything asked of him to this point, including winning 5 of his 6 career races, but is considered trainer Nick Zito’s “other” horse! This Kentucky bred son of Atticus (Nureyev) has never left the confines of the Florida circuit, but made his mark there, taking names while capturing the Aventura Stakes, the Fountain of Youth, and the Florida Derby. While he doesn’t own some of those gaudy Beyer speed figures as some of his foes, he has also never earned less than a 94 Beyer speed figure in his six race career!
7) High Limit won his first three consecutive races in hand, but those victories came at lesser circuits such as Delaware Park. Before his third victory he was switched over to the barn of trainer Bobby Frankel and immediately went wire-to-wire while earning a 105 Beyer speed figure in route to capturing the Louisiana Derby. He lead every step of the way that day at the Fairgrounds, a track known for its extremely long stretch drive, which makes that performance even more interesting to industry insiders. He’ll enter the Kentucky Derby off his first loss, in the Blue Grass, but you can be sure that trainer Bobby Frankel knew that was just a prep, with the Churchill Downs’ Winner’s Circle being the real target.

A different kind of florida derby this time Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

They'll run the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) on Saturday, with High Fly and Noble Causeway likely going off as the favorites in this major prep race for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The starting gate can't open quickly enough for Scott Savin, the beleaguered president and general manager of Gulfstream Park. Savin doesn't have a rooting interest, but the track he runs sure has a lot on the line. "Maybe, whoever wins will go on to win the Kentucky Derby, and next year everyone will say, 'This is the place to be to get ready for the Triple Crown,"' Savin said Friday morning after a visit with Nick Zito, who trains High Fly and Noble Causeway. It's been a tough racing meet for Savin, not to mention South Florida racing fans. The track, owned by Frank Stronach's Magna Entertainment Corp., has been reduced to a bunch of big white tents while construction of a new grandstand and clubhouse continues. Savin has been criticized for moving the date of the Florida Derby from it's usual mid-March slot to five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, perhaps too close to the May 7 Derby for trainers to get another prep race into their horses.

A different kind of florida derby this time Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

They'll run the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) on Saturday, with High Fly and Noble Causeway likely going off as the favorites in this major prep race for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The starting gate can't open quickly enough for Scott Savin, the beleaguered president and general manager of Gulfstream Park. Savin doesn't have a rooting interest, but the track he runs sure has a lot on the line. "Maybe, whoever wins will go on to win the Kentucky Derby, and next year everyone will say, 'This is the place to be to get ready for the Triple Crown,"' Savin said Friday morning after a visit with Nick Zito, who trains High Fly and Noble Causeway. It's been a tough racing meet for Savin, not to mention South Florida racing fans. The track, owned by Frank Stronach's Magna Entertainment Corp., has been reduced to a bunch of big white tents while construction of a new grandstand and clubhouse continues. Savin has been criticized for moving the date of the Florida Derby from it's usual mid-March slot to five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, perhaps too close to the May 7 Derby for trainers to get another prep race into their horses.

A different kind of florida derby this time Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

They'll run the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) on Saturday, with High Fly and Noble Causeway likely going off as the favorites in this major prep race for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The starting gate can't open quickly enough for Scott Savin, the beleaguered president and general manager of Gulfstream Park. Savin doesn't have a rooting interest, but the track he runs sure has a lot on the line. "Maybe, whoever wins will go on to win the Kentucky Derby, and next year everyone will say, 'This is the place to be to get ready for the Triple Crown,"' Savin said Friday morning after a visit with Nick Zito, who trains High Fly and Noble Causeway. It's been a tough racing meet for Savin, not to mention South Florida racing fans. The track, owned by Frank Stronach's Magna Entertainment Corp., has been reduced to a bunch of big white tents while construction of a new grandstand and clubhouse continues. Savin has been criticized for moving the date of the Florida Derby from it's usual mid-March slot to five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, perhaps too close to the May 7 Derby for trainers to get another prep race into their horses.

Derby countdown Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Each week leading up to the Kentucky Derby May 7, the Globe's Ron Indrisano will preview the top 10 contenders:
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1. Sweet Catomine -- The 2-year-old filly champion was an easy winner of the Santa Anita Oaks. She has no more to prove against fillies, and if she defeats males in the Santa Anita Derby, she could join Regret, Genuine Risk, and Winning Colors as a female Kentucky Derby winner. It would make a great story. Next: Santa Anita Derby, April 9.
2. Sun King -- He took a stroll in the park winning the Tampa Bay Derby. Trainer Nick Zito believes Sun King could be exceptional. If he wins the Blue Grass, he can be considered the best of the colts. Next: Blue Grass at Keeneland, April 16.
3. Greater Good -- He has won both the Southwest and Rebel with closing moves. He may be underrated, but he will be considered a major player if he runs well in the Arkansas Derby. Next: Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, April 16.
4. Consolidator -- He dominated the San Felipe, winning in a fast time. His performances have been in and out, but he is very dangerous. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is leaning toward the Blue Grass at Keeneland, where Consolidator won the Breeders' Futurity last year, but has not ruled out the Santa Anita Derby. Next: Blue Grass or Santa Anita Derby.
5. Survivalist -- He is beautifully bred and in top hands. He can close ground and must be respected under the training of Shug McGaughey. Next: Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, April 9.
6. High Limit -- He won the Louisiana Derby in front-running fashion, and is undefeated at 3 for 3. He is a speed horse being developed by Bobby Frankel, who relishes early speed. Next: Blue Grass.
7. High Fly -- He looked good winning the Fountain of Youth, and is heavily favored for the Florida Derby after overcoming a recent fever. If he gets the job done tomorrow, he'll move up the list. Next: Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
8. Rockport Harbor -- He continues to battle a severe cut on his right rear foot after finishing second in the Rebel in his 3-year-old debut. Trainer John Servis still believes the talented colt, who is ridden by Stewart Elliott, will be ready for the Arkansas Derby. Next: Arkansas Derby.
9. Afleet Alex -- He ran last at 3-5 in the Rebel while suffering a lung infection. He has recovered but has been set back in his training. Trainer Tim Ritchey wants him to go in the Arkansas Derby, but he may have to settle for the Lexington at Keeneland, the last train out of the station on the Kentucky Derby trail. Next: Arkansas Derby or Lexington, April 23.
10. Bandini -- He ran second in the Fountain of Youth, and was being pointed for the Florida Derby. However, trainer Todd Pletcher did not enter him, saying, "He's not sick, but he's not 100 percent, either." Pletcher declined to say what was wrong, but it may be a minor foot problem. "He's going to be fine," said Pletcher. Next: Wood Memorial or Blue Grass.

David Cassidy Wants to Win Kentucky Derby Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

David Cassidy isn't horsing around when he says his life's passion is to win the Kentucky Derby.
The 1970s teen idol has a contender in Mayan King, an undefeated 3-year-old who will run Saturday in the Lane's End Stakes at Kentucky's Turfway Park. Cassidy owns the horse with several partners.
"If I could win the Kentucky Derby, there would be nothing on the face of the earth, other than the birth of my son 14 years ago, to compare to the thrill and the high of it," he said Tuesday by phone from Florida.
The colt is named for a street near Cassidy's home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"The day we bought him I thought he was a Derby horse. It's the only time I've ever high-fived anyone in the sales ring," he said. "I've already turned down quite a lot of money for him."
Cassidy, 54, has bred thoroughbreds since the 1970s, when he rose to stardom playing Keith Partridge on "The Partridge Family." He has used a different name because he didn't want to draw attention to his celebrity.
Trainer Paul Aguirre, who will saddle Texcess on Saturday, remembers Cassidy's teen idol days. "It makes it hard to root against him," he said.
Cassidy can't attend Saturday's race because he's doing a concert at a Connecticut casino that night.
"I'm free May 7," he said, laughing. The 131st Kentucky Derby will be run that day at Churchill Downs.

Injured Declan's Moon off Kentucky Derby trail Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

The path to the Kentucky Derby took a few unexpected twists and turns during the weekend: High Limit soared into contention by winning the Louisiana Derby, and top prospect Declan's Moon dropped out with a slight knee fracture.
"It's still early to get excited," trainer Bobby Frankel said the day before High Limit won Saturday's Louisiana Derby in his first race in more than four months. "Strawberries today, jam tomorrow."
But Frankel was pretty pumped up after he got his first look at High Limit in action. Now 3-for-3, the three-year-old colt won his first two races for trainer Tony Dutrow last October before owners Gary and Mary West sent High Limit to Frankel's barn.
High Limit moves into this week's Run to the Roses Top 10 at No. 4. Meanwhile, undefeated Declan's Moon will be sidelined about five months, trainer Ron Ellis said. The two-year-old champion, No. 2 last week, was injured after winning the Santa Catalina Stakes on March 5.
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Also moving onto the Derby trail is Bellamy Road, yet another colt from Nick Zito's barn, this one owned by Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. Bellamy Road won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park by a whopping 153/4 lengths Saturday, and his next start is likely the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9. Zito's other Derby hopefuls include No. 3 High Fly, No. 7 Sun King, Noble Causeway and Andromeda's Hero.
Sweet Catomine continued her domination of fillies Sunday by winning the Santa Anita Oaks, and now is likely to challenge the boys in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. A strong showing in that race, and the two-year-old champion filly might have a chance to become just the fourth filly to win the Kentucky Derby.
Coming up this weekend is a full slate of Derby preps, topped by the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion Wilko takes on the likes of Roman Ruler, Consolidator, Don't Get Mad, Giacomo and Golden Shine in the 1 1-16th-mile San Felipe, while unbeaten Rockport Harbor is set to take on top-ranked Afleet Alex in the 1 1-16th-mile Rebel.
Rockport Harbor was flavouring his right rear leg Saturday — the same leg that was gashed during the Remsen Stakes in November and needed six weeks to heal. Trainer John Servis said "instead of being 75 to 80 per cent for the Rebel, Rocky will be maybe 65 to 70 percent."
Also, Galloping Grocer is scheduled to run in the one-mile Gotham at Aqueduct, and Sun King should be the favourite for the 1 1-16th-mile Tampa Bay Derby.
———
This week's top 10, with updated Derby future wager odds through Sunday:
1. Afleet Alex (Tim Ritchey, trainer; John Velazquez, jockey): Velazquez ready for first trip aboard son of Northern Afleet ... Winner in five of seven starts, with two seconds, for earnings of $710,800 ... Next start: Rebel ... Odds: 8-1.
2. Rockport Harbor (John Servis, Stewart Elliott): Hopefully set for three-year-old debut after winning all four starts last year ... Worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 at Oaklawn on Friday, but right rear leg problem could be factor ... Next start: Rebel ... Odds: 14-1.
3. High Fly (Nick Zito, Jerry Bailey): Fountain of Youth winner has four victories in five starts ... Training solidly for final prep ... Next start: Florida Derby (April 2) ... Odds: 21-1.
4. High Limit (Bobby Frankel, Ramon Dominguez): Won 1 1-16th-mile Louisiana Derby by four lengths in near stakes record time ... Won despite 138 days between races ... Next start: Wood Memorial (April 9) or Blue Grass (April 16) ... Odds: 9-1.
5. Sweet Catomine (Julio Canani, Corey Nakatani): Cruised to victory in Sunday's Santa Anita Oaks ... Next test may be against boys ... Only three fillies have won Kentucky Derby; Winning Colors in 1988 was the last ... Next start: Santa Anita Derby (April 9) ... Odds: 16-1.
6. Roman Ruler (Bob Baffert, Bailey): Passed on Gotham in favour of staying at Santa Anita for 3-year-old debut ... Last race was BC Juvenile on Oct. 30 — he was fifth ... Worked a mile in 1:38.60 last week ... Next start: San Felipe ... Odds: 18-1.
7. Sun King (Zito, Edgar Prado): Won allowance by 53/4 lengths at Gulfstream on Feb. 26 ... Tuned up for next race with five-furlong work in 59.49 at Palm Meadows ... Next start: Tampa Bay Derby ... Odds: 10-1.
8. Wilko (Craig Dollase, Nakatani): BC Juvenile winner worked seven furlongs in 1:28 at Hollywood Park on Saturday ... A solid third in Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 18 in last race ... Next start: San Felipe ... Odds: 21-1.
9. Lost in the Fog (Greg Gilchrist, Russell Baze): Swale Stakes winner just 50-50 for Derby ... Undefeated colt shipped from Florida back to Northern California last week ... Next start: Undecided ... Odds: 13-1.
10. Bandini (Todd Pletcher, Velazquez): Fountain of Youth runner-up may be trainer's best Derby prospect ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 14-1.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Bellamy Road, Consolidator, Don't Get Mad, Galloping Grocer, Noble Causeway.

Declan's Moon won't run in Kentucky Derby Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Undefeated Declan's Moon is off the Kentucky Derby trail because of a minor knee injury and won't return to the races for at least five months.Trainer Ron Ellis said Friday that the injury ---- a hairline fracture to a bone that runs from the shoulder to the knee ---- was discovered several days after Declan's Moon won the Santa Catalina at Santa Anita on March 5 in his 3-year-old debut.
The injury is not career-threatening, Ellis said in a phone interview from California, but "it looks like he's probably going to be out of training about 60 days, and we don't have 60 days to spare."
The Kentucky Derby is May 7.Ellis said once Declan's Moon returns to training, it could be another three months before the gelding races again."Realistically, we're looking at September," he said.Declan's Moon, unbeaten in five races and considered one of the top Derby contenders, becomes the latest 2-year-old champion who couldn't win the race. The most recent Eclipse Award winner as best 2-year-old male to take the Derby was Spectacular Bid in 1979.Ellis said Declan's Moon came out of the Santa Catalina in great shape, but there was "a little heat in his left knee, which is unusual for him."I just kind of chalked it up to running a race and not a real big deal," Ellis said.A few days later, X-rays were taken."He's a hundred percent sound," Ellis said. "He's bouncing around the barn and he came out of the race great physically and mentally, other than what we discovered to be a displaced chip."Surgery remains uncertain pending more X-rays next week.Ellis still has a Derby contender in Don't Get Mad.Meanwhile, the Derby trail will swing through the Fair Grounds today. High Limit drew the No. 3 post position in the nine-horse field for the $600,000 Louisiana Derby. The recently purchased 3-year-old of Bobby Frankel, a four-time Eclipse Award winner, was an early 5-2 favorite.Scipion, winner of the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds last month and a 4-1 second choice, will start from post position 7 with Gary Stevens in the saddle.

Jockey faces possibility of deportation over old arrest Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Stewart Elliott, the jockey who nearly rode to the Triple Crown last year, is in danger of becoming one of the tens of thousands of immigrants deported each year for committing a felony.The native-born Canadian found himself in trouble with immigration officials in December when a computerized database flagged his name at a New York airport as he got off a flight from Hong Kong.Elliot is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, but his ability to remain here was jeopardized in 2001 when he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in New Jersey.Under a tough-as-nails U.S. immigration-reform law passed in 1996, "an alien convicted of an aggravated felony shall be conclusively presumed to be deportable." It also encourages the deportation of people convicted of a crime of "moral turpitude."The wheels of the country's massive immigration bureaucracy have already started to turn, albeit slowly.Elliot was detained on Tuesday after an official determined that the conviction probably made the jockey ineligible to re-enter the United States. He was released on parole a day later and is now waiting for his case to be heard by an immigration judge.Elliott was back riding horses Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack and the jockey's spokeswoman said she is confident the problem will be cleared up quickly.Immigration experts weren't so sure."If he is an aggravated felon, there is no wiggle room," said Marshall Fitz, associate director of advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "The discretion is largely taken away. He will be deported."David Leopold, an immigration lawyer in Cleveland, said it is possible that Elliot's New Jersey sentence was structured in such a way that would allow him to avoid being classified as an aggravated felon, since he served no jail time. In that case, an immigration judge might allow him to stay, Leopold said.
"What this does is highlight the absurdity of the immigration law and how it works to incredible inefficiency and waste of tax dollars," he said.Last year, nearly 83,000 people, or about 53 percent of all deportees, were kicked out of the United States because they had a criminal conviction. That total was up 6 percent from the year before and set an all-time record, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Manny Van Pelt.Elliott spokeswoman Kelly Wietsma said the jockey had been assured by his lawyers that there are ways to resolve the matter."What troubles me the most about this whole thing is, why now?" Wietsma asked. "This happened years ago, and they stopped him in December? He was in the Kentucky Derby last year! It was all over the news."Van Pelt said the long delay between Elliot's criminal conviction and his entry into the immigration courts is not unusual.There is no automated system that prompts the government to act when an immigrant is convicted of a minor crime. The person, however, can be ruled inadmissable when he returns from a trip abroad.Elliott, 40, was born in Toronto. His conviction stemmed from a fight with a friend in Burlington County, N.J. The jockey was sentenced to a year on probation and was ordered to pay $13,900 to cover the victim's medical bills. Prosecutors said Elliott beat the man with a beer bottle, a pool cue and a wooden stool.He talked publicly about the episode during his Triple Crown bid last year. His mount, Smarty Jones, won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, then lost the Belmont Stakes by a length.He was winless in four races at Aqueduct on Thursday, with his best finish a second aboard With Due Respect in the fifth race. His agent, Joe Rosen, said Elliott will continue riding while his case is being determined.