Things to know about Belmont
ELMONT, N.Y. — Here are a few things to know about the Belmont Stakes on Saturday as Justify attempts to become the 13th Triple Crown winner:
New silks for Justify
Fans who got used to seeing Justify jockey Mike Smith win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in the predominantly white WinStar Farm silks will have to look for new colors in the Belmont.
As part of a co-ownership agreement that was established before the Triple Crown, Justify will carry the silks of the China Horse Club, which bought a piece of the horse last year. A somewhat mysterious organization backed by mostly unknown Chinese businessmen, the China Horse Club has made a splash in racing over the past couple years with a handful of notable runners, including last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman.
The red silks with yellow stars evoke an image of the Chinese flag, which is intentional — part of the group’s goal is to popularize the sport in China, where gambling is illegal.
Though trainer Bob Baffert has some notable superstitions (he hates black cats and told his wife Jill that wearing a green dress at this year’s Kentucky Derby was unlucky), he said this wasn’t a big deal.
“I’m superstitious about little things, but not really about the silks,” he said. “I’m sure it’s probably the first time this has ever happened.”
Gronkowski in attendance
Phoenix Thoroughbreds, which formed last year as an “investment fund” in horse racing and has spent more than $25 million at sales already, is making its first Triple Crown appearance with Gronkowski, named for Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.
While preparing for the Kentucky Derby, the real Gronkowski bought an undisclosed percentage of the horse, only to suffer his first disappointment as an owner: An injury knocked him out of the race. But Amer Abdulaziz, the Dubai-based businessman who founded the organization, said he’d like to name more horses after celebrities and get them out to the track.
“He’s the first, and let’s say we go and win that will open up a lot of doors,” Abdulaziz said. The human Gronkowski is expected to attend the Belmont.
Wet track possible
Can we get just one nice day this year for a Triple Crown race?
After miserable, sustained rains preceding both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, it appears weather is once again threatening to give us a sloppy track for the Belmont.
Though the Weather Channel’s forecast earlier in the week almost guaranteed rain Saturday, it has since improved to a 40 percent chance of showers in the early evening.
Even though Justify has proven he can handle a wet surface, Baffert said he’d prefer the race to be run on a nice, fast track in cool conditions.
Audible is silent
If Florida Derby winner Audible had run in the Belmont, he might very well have been the second betting choice in the race. But there’s an obvious reason FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2018 why he’s skipping this one: He’s also owned by a partnership that primarily includes WinStar Farm and the China Horse Club, which would have put them in the awkward position of possibly ruining their own Triple Crown bid.
Trainer Todd Pletcher officially attributed the decision to a minor physical setback that took Audible out of training for a few days.
But it seems unlikely Audible, who finished third in the Derby, was ever going to run in the Belmont once Justify won the Preakness.