Derby countdown Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Each week leading up to the Kentucky Derby May 7, the Globe's Ron Indrisano will preview the top 10 contenders:
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1. Sweet Catomine -- The 2-year-old filly champion was an easy winner of the Santa Anita Oaks. She has no more to prove against fillies, and if she defeats males in the Santa Anita Derby, she could join Regret, Genuine Risk, and Winning Colors as a female Kentucky Derby winner. It would make a great story. Next: Santa Anita Derby, April 9.
2. Sun King -- He took a stroll in the park winning the Tampa Bay Derby. Trainer Nick Zito believes Sun King could be exceptional. If he wins the Blue Grass, he can be considered the best of the colts. Next: Blue Grass at Keeneland, April 16.
3. Greater Good -- He has won both the Southwest and Rebel with closing moves. He may be underrated, but he will be considered a major player if he runs well in the Arkansas Derby. Next: Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, April 16.
4. Consolidator -- He dominated the San Felipe, winning in a fast time. His performances have been in and out, but he is very dangerous. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is leaning toward the Blue Grass at Keeneland, where Consolidator won the Breeders' Futurity last year, but has not ruled out the Santa Anita Derby. Next: Blue Grass or Santa Anita Derby.
5. Survivalist -- He is beautifully bred and in top hands. He can close ground and must be respected under the training of Shug McGaughey. Next: Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, April 9.
6. High Limit -- He won the Louisiana Derby in front-running fashion, and is undefeated at 3 for 3. He is a speed horse being developed by Bobby Frankel, who relishes early speed. Next: Blue Grass.
7. High Fly -- He looked good winning the Fountain of Youth, and is heavily favored for the Florida Derby after overcoming a recent fever. If he gets the job done tomorrow, he'll move up the list. Next: Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
8. Rockport Harbor -- He continues to battle a severe cut on his right rear foot after finishing second in the Rebel in his 3-year-old debut. Trainer John Servis still believes the talented colt, who is ridden by Stewart Elliott, will be ready for the Arkansas Derby. Next: Arkansas Derby.
9. Afleet Alex -- He ran last at 3-5 in the Rebel while suffering a lung infection. He has recovered but has been set back in his training. Trainer Tim Ritchey wants him to go in the Arkansas Derby, but he may have to settle for the Lexington at Keeneland, the last train out of the station on the Kentucky Derby trail. Next: Arkansas Derby or Lexington, April 23.
10. Bandini -- He ran second in the Fountain of Youth, and was being pointed for the Florida Derby. However, trainer Todd Pletcher did not enter him, saying, "He's not sick, but he's not 100 percent, either." Pletcher declined to say what was wrong, but it may be a minor foot problem. "He's going to be fine," said Pletcher. Next: Wood Memorial or Blue Grass.

David Cassidy Wants to Win Kentucky Derby Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

David Cassidy isn't horsing around when he says his life's passion is to win the Kentucky Derby.
The 1970s teen idol has a contender in Mayan King, an undefeated 3-year-old who will run Saturday in the Lane's End Stakes at Kentucky's Turfway Park. Cassidy owns the horse with several partners.
"If I could win the Kentucky Derby, there would be nothing on the face of the earth, other than the birth of my son 14 years ago, to compare to the thrill and the high of it," he said Tuesday by phone from Florida.
The colt is named for a street near Cassidy's home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"The day we bought him I thought he was a Derby horse. It's the only time I've ever high-fived anyone in the sales ring," he said. "I've already turned down quite a lot of money for him."
Cassidy, 54, has bred thoroughbreds since the 1970s, when he rose to stardom playing Keith Partridge on "The Partridge Family." He has used a different name because he didn't want to draw attention to his celebrity.
Trainer Paul Aguirre, who will saddle Texcess on Saturday, remembers Cassidy's teen idol days. "It makes it hard to root against him," he said.
Cassidy can't attend Saturday's race because he's doing a concert at a Connecticut casino that night.
"I'm free May 7," he said, laughing. The 131st Kentucky Derby will be run that day at Churchill Downs.

Lost in the Fog May Find Way Into Kentucky Derby Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

There are only so many questions the veteran trainer Greg Gilchrist can answer. He knows he has a special horse, one with blazing speed and immense ability that may be unbeatable at six and a half furlongs or less. But is his horse, Lost in the Fog, capable of winning longer races and does he belong in the Kentucky Derby? Like everyone else, Gilchrist will have to wait to find out.
It will be a busy weekend for horses heading down the road to the Kentucky Derby on May 7. Declan's Moon, a champion as a 2-year-old last year, will make his 2005 debut in Saturday's Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita and, a few hours earlier, a large field of 3-year-olds will compete in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. But Lost in the Fog, the most intriguing and, perhaps, the most talented 3-year-old to compete Saturday, is not even nominated to the Triple Crown.
Lost in the Fog will be heavily favored in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes at Gulfstream, and a victory could compel Gilchrist and Harry Aleo, the horse's owner, to start thinking about the Kentucky Derby. Lost in the Fog can still run in the Triple Crown races if his owner pays a $6,000 late-nomination fee.
"We need to find out how much class this horse has and how far he can go," Gilchrist said. "As far as trying to go out and prove those things, they will happen in time. We'll just let the horse answer the questions for us."
With a modest pedigree and based at the second-tier Northern California tracks, Lost in the Fog won in his debut Nov. 14 at Golden Gate Fields by seven and a half lengths. Six weeks later, he set a track record in winning a small stakes at six and a half furlongs by 14¾ lengths at Turf Paradise in Arizona. In his next start, he dominated a decent field in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream.
Victories, even impressive ones, in minor sprint stakes, usually do not merit much buzz. But Lost in the Fog's fame mushroomed because of his Beyer numbers, the speed figures run by The Daily Racing Form. His 109 in the Turf Paradise race was the best number given to any 2-year-old in 2004.
The figures and the dominant manner in which Lost in the Fog polished off his opponents caught the attention of several people looking for a Kentucky Derby prospect. Aleo, who is 85, received several offers for the horse, and some were reportedly in the $2 million neighborhood. Aleo was adamant: Lost in the Fog is not for sale.
"There are more important things in the world than money," Aleo said. "How much is it worth to go to Gulfstream Park and win the Sunshine Millions? The excitement, the enthusiasm, the apprehension, you can't buy that sort of thing. If I sold him, what would I do with the money? I'd start looking around for another horse to buy."
Lost in the Fog has enough ability to produce more thrills for his owner, but it remains to be seen if they will occur in the Triple Crown races. Lost in the Fog may be another Smarty Jones, a colt with speed that he can carry for a mile and a quarter, the distance of the Kentucky Derby. Or he could just be a fast horse lacking the stamina to win distance races.
"I can't tell you if he can go a mile and a quarter," Gilchrist said. "The only way we're ever going to find out is to try it. I don't think he'll have any problems up to a mile. Past that, I'd just be guessing."
The Swale, a Grade III race, should be the toughest assignment of Lost in the Fog's career, but it won't answer many questions about Lost in the Fog's distance capabilities. But Gilchrist said that should Lost in the Fog win Saturday, he would most likely make his next start in a longer race, probably at a mile and an eighth. Even a victory at that distance might not get him to the Kentucky Derby. Aleo said he was more interested in trying the Preakness Stakes because it is slightly shorter at a mile and three-sixteenths and usually has a smaller field than the Derby.
Declan's Moon, a gelding, closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the Dec. 18 Hollywood Futurity. Because Declan's Moon was still competing in December, his trainer, Ron Ellis, decided to schedule only two prep races before the Kentucky Derby. After the Santa Catalina, he will run in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. Only one horse (Sunny's Halo in 1983) since 1947 has won the Kentucky Derby with two or fewer preps as a 3-year-old.
The Todd Pletcher-trained Bandini, an impressive allowance winner this year, and High Fly are the top contenders in the Fountain of Youth. High Fly, a disappointment when he finished third as the heavy favorite in the Holy Bull Stakes, will be making his debut for the new trainer-jockey team of Nick Zito and Jerry Bailey.

Pleasantly Perfect Muscles Up for Breeders' Cup Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Pleasantly Perfect is in prime condition for the defense of his Breeders' Cup Classic crown at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Saturday.
The favorite, who also won the $6 million Dubai World Cup in March, worked over the weekend at Santa Anita in California, scene of the 2003 series, impressing trainer Richard Mandella.
He told the Breeders' Cup Web Site his champion had never been better.
Mandella said: "This was his big one. We've built up to it over the last month to this point and the rest will kind of taper off from here.
"Because he hasn't raced in a while, I had to give him something similar to a race."
Pleasantly Perfect is quoted as 7-4 favorite for a successful defense of his crown ahead of 11-2 chance Birdstone, the Belmont and Travers Stakes winner.
Birdstone worked at Lone Star Park on Sunday when connections played down a rash visible on the horse's rump and flank.
Reynaldo Abreu, assistant to trainer Nick Zito, said: "It's already dried out and dead. There's just no hair there. There's nothing wrong with his blood or inside of him. Actually, it looks a lot better than it did a week ago."
Exercise rider Maxine Correa said: "He went fine. He was looking around, checking out the surroundings. He's really, really good. Mentally and physically he's gotten fuller. He knows his business now and he's very focused."
The $4 million Classic is the highlight of the eight-race $14 million series which is being held in Texas for the first time since its inception in 1984.
Lone Star Park opened only seven years ago and the event is a 51,000 sell-out.
A 12-strong contingent from Europe is gathering and features English and Irish Oaks winner Ouija Board who also finished third in this month's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The three-year-old was flying out from England on Monday. A decision on whether she contests the Filly and Mare or the tougher Turf race will be made on Wednesday, the day of final declarations and post-positions draw.

Countdown to the Cup: Action is Hot and Heavy Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

The action was hot and heavy going into Breeders' Cup week, with 26 pre-entered horses working on Oct. 24, an influx of horses arriving from all parts of the country and Europe, and a serious injury to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) contender Ready's Gal.
Ready's Gal, who was coming off an excellent second to Balletto in the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, suffered a fractured pastern in her right hind leg while working at Belmont. The daughter of More Than Ready joins Balto Star, who had been cross-entered in the John Deer Turf (gr. IT) and Mile (gr. I), as Breeders' Cup casualties from the Todd Pletcher barn.
As of Monday morning, Oct. 25, only three Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) starters were at Lone Star Park – Roses in May, Dynever, and Birdstone, who arrived sporting the remnants of a skin rash that had broken out shortly after the colt's victory in the Travers Stakes (gr. I). Assistant trainer Reynaldo Abreu said the rash has completely dried up and the spots remaining are bald spots that have already begun to fill in. All blood tests proved negative, and the rash has not affected Birdstone's training.
Roses in May and Dynever both worked at Lone Star Saturday, with Roses in May breezing five furlongs in 1:01 3/5, galloping out a strong quarter mile, and Dynever breezing a half in :48 3/5, galloping out five-eighths.
Three other Classic horses – Pleasantly Perfect, Perfect Drift, and the Japanese invader, Personal Rush -- are due to arrive today.
Also scheduled to arrive Monday was a planeload of European horses, headed by the top-classic fillies Ouija Board, cross-entered in the Turf and VO5 Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT); Nebraska Tornado, cross-entered in the Distaff - Presented by Nextel- (gr. I) and Filly & Mare Turf; and Six Perfections, who will be trying to land consecutive victories in the Mile.
The most notable works Sunday were the five-furlong drills by Ghostzapper (:59 3/5 at Belmont) and Roman Ruler (:58 at Santa Anita). Ghostzapper is scheduled to fly to Dallas on Wednesday, along with other Bobby Frankel-trained Breeders' Cup starters based in New York Midas Eyes, Cajun Beat, and Nothing to Lose. Two other Frankel starters – Light Jig and Mega hertz, were expected from California.
One of the main questions surrounding this year's World Thoroughbred Championships was how horses would handle Lone Star Park, which has only been in existence since 1997 and has never even had a grade II race run there.
So far, there have been no complaints, and several exercise riders have commented how great they thought the turf course was. The course had been listed as yielding this past weekend, and the riders said it was in fantastic shape, with a good bounce to it.

Pleasantly Perfect Continues to Prepare for Classic Defense Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Multi-millionaire Pleasantly Perfect worked a mile in 1:38 1/5 in company with stablemate Sanfran at Santa Anita Monday in preparation for his defense of his Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) – Powered by Dodge title at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30. Regular rider Crystal Brown was in the irons for the move.
"He galloped out a mile and an eighth in 1:53," trainer Richard Mandella said. "He'll leave (for Texas) on the 25th. He'll get most of his work here (in California), but we'll probably do a little something with him when he gets there."
Pleasantly Perfect, who won the Pacific Classic (gr. I) in his last start, also won the Dubai World Cup (gr. I) and owns a career line of 17-9-3-1. Currently he ranks sixth on the all-time North American earnings list with a bankroll of $7,349,880.

Lukas hesitant to pit Azeri vs. males again Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

It couldn't have taken but seconds after Azeri cruised to victory in last Sunday's Overbrook Spinster Stakes at Keeneland that the discussion began anew over whether she should continue to race against fillies and mares in the Distaff or challenge males in the Classic on Breeders' Cup Day Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park. It was a point of many animated discussions between owner Michael Paulson and Azeri's first trainer, Laura de Seroux, who guided Azeri to the Horse of the Year title in 2002. And it is again at the forefront for Paulson and Azeri's current trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, who has righted Azeri after a mid-season hiccup. As with de Seroux, Lukas appears to be coming down on the side of caution. In an interview this week, Lukas outlined the reasons he believes Azeri should race in the Distaff, while emphasizing the final choice will be made by Paulson. And that choice might not be made until the last moment. The Breeders' Cup has a two-stage entry process. On Monday, horses must be pre-entered. At that point, horses can be named to more than one race, and that is what is likely to happen with Azeri. She is expected to be pre-entered in both the $2 million Distaff and the $4 million Classic. Those entries are announced Wednesday. Then, on Oct. 27, final entries are due, and post positions are drawn. At that point, horses must be entered in just one race. "I laid it all out for him," Lukas said from his home in Louisville, Ky., not far from Churchill Downs. "I said, 'I work for you, and I'll do whatever you want, Michael.' He's amazing, the amount of work he does on her. He takes films, and has this stop-frame stuff where he can tear down a race by every eighth and every quarter. It's mind-boggling how in-depth he gets into it. "I gave him the pros and cons. Obviously, if she goes in the Distaff, she'll be the favorite. The other race has more issues. He wants to double-enter. Look, I want to win a Breeders' Cup race. I don't feel you should go in the Classic unless you have the edge. I did it with Serena's Song in the Haskell because I thought she was the best horse in the race. I did it with Winning Colors in the Derby because I thought she was the best 3-year-old. I did it with Lady's Secret in the Whitney because I thought she was the best horse in the race. They clearly had the best numbers." The Distaff is at 1 1/8 miles, a distance over which Azeri has won 6 times in 7 starts, including the 2002 Distaff. The Classic is at 1 1/4 miles. The only time Azeri has attempted 1 1/4 miles, she was caught in a speed duel and was nailed late by Storm Flag Flying in the Personal Ensign Handicap. In addition, the Classic will have quality speed horses such as Roses in May, whereas the pace in the Distaff should not be as wicked. In Azeri's lone try against males, she finished eighth of nine in the Metropolitan Handicap. Lukas said the likely defection of the speedy Saint Liam from the Classic would not alter his opinion over the merits of the two races, but acknowledged that "the way the race unfolds would have a great bearing on the outcome. "She will relax beautifully," Lukas said. "She doesn't need to wing-ding. What will have more of an effect on her is adding the eighth of a mile from the Distaff to the Classic." If Azeri wins the Distaff, she likely will clinch her third straight Eclipse Award as champion older filly or mare. And she will complete a remarkable season, returning from near-retirement at the end of 2003. "It's gratifying the way she's put the doubters to sleep," Lukas said, "but she's one of those that anyone could have taken. I just don't know if anyone could have handled the heat like I can. I'm used to it." Lukas also will enter Stellar Jayne in the Distaff. Others expected include Ashado, Elloluv, Indy Groove, Island Fashion, Society Selection, Storm Flag Flying, and Tamweel. Indy Groove is trained by Tom Proctor, who 10 years ago pulled off a Distaff shocker with 47-1 shot One Dreamer. "It's the 10-year anniversary," said Hap Proctor, Tom's brother, who is the farm manager for owner Leonard Lavin's Glen Hill Farm. "Plus, we can eat some good barbecue."