The sweeping turns of Big Sandy await eight contenders for the 2021 Belmont Stakes. Essential Quality is favored in the “Test of Champions” at Belmont Park in New York.
The Contenders:
Essential Quality Kentucky Derby favorite passed on the Preakness to get ready for the Belmont. The sire is Tapit who has picked up a couple of Belmont Stakes winners as a sire. The female family leans more speed. He is a fast horse who ran a fast six furlongs last year. Slow fractions will benefit him and if he makes the last move he may be the winner.
Hot Rod Charlie: Hot Rod Charlie comes in fresh for the Belmont after skipping the Preakness, he ran strong off the bench in the Robert Lewis, and his front running score in the Louisiana Derby was dominant. His best strength is versatility, and that running style should do well at Big Sandy, where he can gallop evenly and wait for the right opportunity. Win contender with both speed and class in the pedigree with Oxbow, the sire who won the Preakness Stakes, and Hot Rod Charlie is a half-brother to Mitole, who won the Met Mile and Breeder’s Cup Sprint.
Rombauer: Got the perfect trip in the Preakness. Fast Beyer speed figure of 102 put’s him in with the fastest horses of this crop. Pace duel benefitted him in Maryland, but he was moving early and is lightly raced with plenty of spacing between his Golden Gate victory and rest period after the Blue Grass. Capable of winning.
Known Agenda: Disappointed in the Kentucky Derby. He ran evenly but was bottled up inside after drawing the rail. His best two races came when he was allowed to tip out at Gulfstream Park. Distance pedigree and Todd Pletcher does well in the Belmont Stakes. Should “Run All Day” and the light freshening after the two big Gulfstream Efforts should have him in the mix turning for home. He is another with natural speed and could be on the front end if fractions are slow.
Rock Your World: According to Trakus ran further than the winner Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby and also ran further than Essential Quality. He was knocked at the start and may have been over the top after a dominating Santa Anita Derby victory. Recent works have been solid and like the fresh horse angle for the Belmont.
The Selection:
Rock Your World looks like the controlling speed in a race that could have slow fractions. Hot Rod Charlie and Rock, Your World have the most natural speed. Rock Your World is the bigger mystery after having a rough trip in the Kentucky Derby, but it will be a longer price. I’m going to take a slight upset and go for the higher price with Rock Your World. Exactas Rock Your World over Essential Quality, Rombauer, and Known Agenda.