Well, I like to think that the weather doesn't matter and good horses win in spite of the rain but tomorrow's Belmont Stakes is looking a wash already. I stopped at Belmont on my way home on Wednesday, long enough to watch a couple and win a couple. It was a beautiful afternoon, the parking lots were packed more than usual and the grounds were a buzz with Belmont fever in the air. It was great to see the track this way. I even picked up a nice T-shirt at the gift shop in case they sold out.
Someone at the paddock fence told me bad weather was expected for the big one on Saturday and I said, "good." That means less of a crowd to deal with but not great for the race and I felt bad having said that. On Friday afternoon I watched the races on TV. The bloody rain hadn't quit all day. I only went out to get The Post for The Belmont fields and turned in to see how bad it really was.
I was on the verge of tears. There was no one in the stands as heavy rain poured straight down and visibility was poor. A lack of wind isn't going to help it dry out any if this keeps up all night as it is forecast, I thought. The only light was the reflection from the blanket of white carnations bouncing of Secretariat's bronze statue in the paddock.
There had been major scratchings of course and odds were short, and very long, so you could still make money. Those horses that could handle it as the caller said, "have sailed to the wire." It's as if they just don't sink like the others. Sense of a Woman won by 13 lengths and Inquiring, who ran second, paid $9.80 for the place so it wasn't all bad. And Lisalisalee simple skipped across the mud like a stone skips over water when thrown right. In the Jaipur Stakes however, it was raining heavier than it had all day and looked like the horses were struggling to stay straight in their lanes, which resulted in a disqualification for Big Screen.
The last race of the day, The Brooklyn Handicap, was what we wait for, what on a shity day is a fans big pay off, the thrill and feel-good that makes it all worth while. Calidoscopio, who paid $17 for the win was at least 20 lengths behind the field coming into the far turn, around the turn he started to move up fast taking then down one at a time until he finally reached Percussion, who had been on the lead all the way, and in the closing strides, a ten-year-old horse that you might have torn up your tickets on got to the wire first making up 25 lengths in a field on 8. He looked good for ten, he looked good for any age, nicely rounded with great top-line, "in good nick" as we say where I'm from. That's the stuff I love that makes me cry.
There will be a winner of the 145 Belmont tomorrow rain or shine.
How is the field looking? Things are changing. Horses that look good in the slop: Orb, Freedom Child, and Revolutionary.
Freedom Child, another Malibu Moon, is the new buzz because he is coming off a huge win in the Peter Pan which is a prep race for the Belmont and it was run in the slop.
Orb, won the Derby on an off track, so it won't worry him.
Revolutionary, ran third in the Derby and a lot of people like him.
But are we forgetting who ran a monstrous second in that same sloppy Derby? Golden Soul, who is now my long shot horse. This morning my long shot horse was Incognito, who I wouldn't rule out of a place or show bet. He is bred for an off track and impressed me a few weeks back with his courage when he tripped in a race, got up and pushed through horses to win. He is big strong grey by AP Indy out of an Unbridled Song mare.
Then there is Oxbow and if anyone can get a horse back up to the Belmont it's Lukas. I remember how good Editor's Note looked when he won in 1996. And Lukas's other horse, Will Take Charge, is another big beauty who looks strong enough to handle anything.
I'm sticking with Orb to win but my exotics and place, show bets have changed en light of the wet. My long shot is Golden Soul and I'll have something on Incognito to show. Remember sometimes a place or show bets will pay better than the winner which is what happened last year when Union Rags won.
I have rethought my outfit several times this afternoon but no one looks cool with a brolly (umbrella) and Wellington boots. The rain isn't going to stop me from going though. I have planned to wear blue and white in honor of the 40th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown win.
I just can't wait for the ride home on the L.I.E. that, will be the worst part of the day.
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