The Buildings are taller in the big city can Justify finish and become the 13th Triple Crown winner?
The 2018 Belmont Stakes Field
Justify
Undefeated, game and tested, Justify enters the Belmont Stakes riding a five-race winning streak and brings an undefeated record into Big Sandy. Justify has won three of his five races in the slop and should welcome getting back to a fast track. The pedigree is a little light for twelve furlongs compared to others in the race; he should send from the rail and try to slow down the pace. The 1250 pound son of Scat Daddy seems to be holding his weight. The Big Dog may be ready to eat the Big Apple.
Free Drop Billy
Has lost five straight races and did not get any run in the Derby losing by 41 lengths, that race does not show his actual level of talent. He has worked well and could be a fresh horse and possibly past some horses down the lane. He is very live for a 3rd and 4th place finish.
Bravazo
May have benefitted the most from sloppy tracks in Louisville and Baltimore. Strong mile workout indicates he has helped from the racing. The long-striding son of Awesome Again was rolling late in the Preakness, but have a feeling Baltimore may have been his best race. Small chance he sends and goes for the lead, not sure that will give him his best chance of a top finish.
Hofburg
A top-notch pedigree and the right mix of speed and stamina in his races have this son of Tapit ready to fire a strong effort. He finished strongly in the Florida Derby while taking advantage of a steady pace. In the Kentucky Derby, he was stopped several times and had a durable finish, running wide down the center of the track to pass horses late. He has speed and won his maiden by running second by only a length at the six-furlong call while running from the eleventh post. He has tactical speed and fits the Belmont winning profile of late with skipping the Preakness.
Restoring Hope
His resume is light, and toss the Pat Day Mile effort in the slop, which was a wrong distance for this grinding son of Giant’s Causeway. Overall he is not a Grade one horse at this time. Not sure he has the speed to go for the lead, and won’t be able to stick late with the classier horses.
Gronkowski
He has run in weaker synthetic races in Europe. He had a setback that caused him to miss the Kentucky Derby and carried high weights in Europe. He is a wild card, but his chances of winning the race are very slim.
Tenfold
Ran a strong race in the Preakness and may also have benefitted from the slop. Was widest of all and covered the most ground at Baltimore. He does have tactical speed and could benefit from being close to the pace and hope to slow down the fractions with a chance to make a move at the mile mark in the race.
Vino Rosso
Ran evenly in the Kentucky Derby and dominated the Wood Memorial with a durable finish in a race that featured a fast pace. He has proved he can run smoothly, and his best races probably need a good speed duel. Can he stay within 5-7 lengths and be able to time his move when the real running begins. He comes in fresh and should be fit, he probably is a little slower than some of the contenders at 10 furlongs, but at the Belmont distance, his even running style and the large tank may benefit him the most.
Noble Indy
Brings speed to the party and gets a jockey upgrade in Javier Castellano. Best chance is to send from the outside, establish the rail as his position and try to slow down the pace. He is gritty and is a big, alpha horse who can win when he outclasses the competition but has to prove that he can face good horses and still run competitively at a longer distance.
Blended Citizen
Dominated the Peter Pan and took advantage of a three-horse speed duel on the front end and picked up the pieces down the lane. The trip over the Belmont Surface should help him, and he has a run all day style, I prefer others with more tactical speed to lay close, and Blended Citizen seems more like a plodder who can get the distance. He possibly could fill out the trifecta and superfecta, not sure on the winning end.
The Strategy
If you like Justify and think he can’t lose. Straight Exactas Justify over Vino Rosso and Hofburg.
I prefer to take an aggressive approach in this race using Hofburg and Vino Ross on win tickets and top in daily double wagers.