Wide-open field faces steep test
Kentucky Derby, Preakness kings pass on long run
Associated Press
NEW YORK — This topsy-turvy Triple Crown trail comes to an end in a Belmont Stakes without the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners or the expected favorite who dropped out. It comes, however, with questions about a Japanese horse with a sore foot.
No horse has dominated the 3-year-old ranks so far this year, leaving the 1½mile Belmont up for grabs among 12 horses that Saturday will run the longest race of their lives.
The 7-2 early favorite Irish War Cry is only in the Belmont after trainer Graham Motion licked his wounds from the colt’s 10thplace finish in the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago.
“When you get beaten as one of the favorites in the Derby, it’s pretty discouraging and you just want to put it behind you,” he said. “My horse is doing well. As long as he’s doing well, he deserved a chance.”
Irish War Cry inherited the role of favorite after Classic Empire was forced out earlier in the week with an abscess in his hoof.
Speculation on the status of early 4-1 second choice Epicharis continued to swirl Friday after the colt did not train for a third consecutive day because of his sore right front hoof.
He was examined by veterinarians from the New York Racing Association and the Japan Racing Association, but no details on his condition were given. His trainer, Kiyoshi Hagiwara, didn’t speak to the media.
Epicharis received a treatment of the legal antiinflammatory Phenylbutazone, or bute, Wednesday for what was described as lameness in his right front leg.
The colt stood in ice to help his hoof and was fitted with a glue-on shoe, an alternative for horses with a damaged hoof. Instead of being nailed on, which could cause more soreness, the plastic-coated shoe is wrapped around the hoof wall.
Martin Panza, vice president of racing for NYRA, said Epicharis was walking soundly Friday.
“They feel confident they can make the race tomorrow, but they’re still going to monitor the horse,” he said of the Japanese team. “Obviously, the horse comes first, and, if there are any problems, they’ll reevaluate. Right now, they’re very comfortable that the horse is comfortable and much better than he was two days ago.”
Epicharis previously trained on the track Tuesday. He hasn’t raced since finishing second March 25 in the UAE Derby.
“He’s a nice horse to ride because you can use any tactics,” said Christophe Lemaire, his French jockey. “If there’s no pace at all, he can lead or he can sit in second position. A mile and a half is a long way to go, but, in his previous races, he has shown us some stamina.”
A victory would earn Epicharis a $1 million bonus from NYRA, which worked to lure a horse from Japan.
Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming finished eighth in the Preakness, so he is skipping the Belmont. His trainer Todd Pletcher has two shots at winning the $1.5 million race on his home track: He will saddle 6-1 fourth choice Tapwrit and one-eyed Patch.
Tapwrit was sixth in the Derby and Patch was 14th.
“I think he ran a sneaky good race in the Derby,” Pletcher said of Tapwrit. “I don’t think it would be a Race: 149th Belmont surprise if either of them Stakes. ran well.”
Post time: 6:37 p.m. Cloud Computing
Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, skipped the Derby, won the Preakness and is sitting out N.Y. the Belmont. His trainer TV: WPXI. Chad Brown has 20-1 shot Twisted Tom, who brings a three-race winning streak into the race on his home track.
Lookin At Lee will be the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races. He was second in the Derby and fourth in the Preakness. He’s the early 5-1 third choice. Gormley, ninth in the Derby, stayed home in California and missed the Preakness.
Multiplier was sixth in the Preakness after sitting out the Derby.
The longest shot is 30-1 Hollywood Handsome, who, along with 15-1 Meantime, didn’t run in either of the first two legs.
J Boys Echo is one of five Belmont runners who skipped the Preakness after running in the Derby, a route taken last year by Belmont winner Creator.
Belmont Park’s deep, sandy track and sweeping turns can wipe out a tiring horse and benefit a closer able to negotiate the long stretch.
Senior Investment surged late to take third in the Preakness and his trainer, Ken McPeek, won the 2002 Belmont with 70-1 shot Sarava. “This thing is wide open, completely wide open,” McPeek said.