NEWS
VIDEO - Ice Box draws post six in Belmont
Posted: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 11:10 AM
ICE BOX
Coglianese Photos
For video of trainer Alexis Barba on Make Music for Me, click here.
For video of jockey John Velazquez on Fly Down, click here.
by Frank Angst
Trainer Nick Zito would like nothing more than to continue a sequential post position count among his Belmont Stakes (G1) winners when he saddles 3-to-1 morning-line favorite Ice Box in Saturday’s race.
Robert LaPenta’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner-up will break from post six in the field of 12 three-year-olds going 1½ miles in the $1-million race. Birdstone captured the 2004 Belmont after breaking from post four for Zito, and Da’ Tara won the '08 edition after starting from post five for the Racing Hall of Fame trainer.
Ernie Reichard, racing manager for LaPenta, who secured his first classic when Da’ Tara’s won the Belmont, said five weeks off since the Derby should benefit Ice Box, who is by Pulpit.
“We gave him some time off; there was no need to rush him,” Reichard said. “We just gave him some time. … Nick gives these horses time. He doesn’t rush them and that’s what these horses need apparently.”
While Ice Box figures to deliver his best run late, Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up First Dude appears to be the likely pacesetter after leading the Preakness field through a half-mile in :46.47. Despite that fast pace, the Stephen Got Even colt held on for second.
First Dude will start as the 7-to-2 morning-line second choice from post 11, the same post he broke from in the Preakness. Regular rider Ramon Dominguez believes First Dude, who finished fifth to Ice Box in the Florida Derby (G1), will thrive at the distance and on the big Belmont turns.
“When Ramon jumped off of him after the Florida Derby when he got in all that trouble, he said, ‘The Belmont is this horse’s race; he’s going to love that track,’ ” said First Dude's trainer, Dale Romans. “We got him up here two weeks ago and he’s settled in.”
Zito also will saddle Richard Pell’s Fly Down in Saturday’s Belmont. The Dwyer Stakes (G2) winner will break from post five as the 9-to-2 third choice on the morning line.
Frank Angst is a Thoroughbred Times senior staff writer on location at Belmont
$1-million Belmont Stakes (G1)
Saturday, Belmont Park
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Post |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
ML Odds |
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1 |
Dave In Dixie |
Calvin Borel |
John Sadler |
20-to-1 |
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2 |
Spangled Star |
Garrett Gomez |
Rich Dutrow Jr. |
30-to-1 |
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3 |
Uptowncharlybrown |
Rajiv Maragh |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
10-to-1 |
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4 |
Make Music for Me |
Joel Rosario |
Alexis Barba |
10-to-1 |
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5 |
Fly Down |
John Velazquez |
Nick Zito |
9-to-1 |
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6 |
Ice Box |
Jose Lezcano |
Nick Zito |
3-to-1 |
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7 |
Drosselmeyer |
Mike Smith |
Bill Mott |
12-to-1 |
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8 |
Game On Dude |
Martin Garcia |
Bob Baffert |
10-to-1 |
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9 |
Stately Victor |
Alan Garcia |
Mike Maker |
15-to-1 |
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10 |
Stay Put |
Jamie Theriot |
Steve Margolis |
20-to-1 |
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11 |
First Dude |
Ramon Dominguez |
Dale Romans |
7-to-2 |
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12 |
Interactif |
Javier Castellano |
Todd Pletcher |
12-to-1 |
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Dave, Green Bay, WI on June 03, 2010 at 03:26 PM
First Dude's speed will not hold up especially with a few Brave one's pressing him......plus First Dude will have lot's of work to get position from the 11 hole.........I would expect that the come from behind horses may have the best chance......I would expect a meltdown at the top of the Long Belmont stretch.......then here comes the charge from the 2nd tier and then the deep closers will be up there with some time to spare......Ice Box by 3 lengths...then Fly Down, Stately Victor,,,,and maybe talented First Dude holding on for a small piece of the Pie. I would box Ice Box to all to win the exacta or you may narrow it down to a few than all.........but Ice Box will be 1st or 2nd....and for the sake of Exacta players.....hopefully 2nd with a Longshot holding on in front of him......
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Posted by: jack, hoff, MI on June 02, 2010 at 07:59 PM
First Dude sux. Cheap speed.
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Posted by: mara, juan diaz, AZ on June 02, 2010 at 05:40 PM
hello
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