Field and Odds For the 2021 Belmont Stakes

Before the weekend, it looked as if there would be 11 entries in Saturday's 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes.  Rebel's Romance, owned by Godolphin Stables, and winner of the UAE Derby in March, had Mike Smith signed as a jockey, when the colt developed an infection in his hind leg, and was not entered.  Two other hopefuls, Brooklyn Strong, who ran in the Derby, and Keepmeinmind, who ran in both the Derby and Preakness, were also not entered in the third leg of the Triple Crown.

   So a field of eight Kentucky-bred colts will contest the longest race in the Triple Crown series.  The Belmont Stakes is scheduled to start at 6:49 pm EDT on 5 June, with a guaranteed purse of $1.5 million.  The course is one complete trip around the 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs) of the track known as "Big Sandy."  All of the three-year-old colts will carry 126 pounds in the race.  As usual, this will probably be the longest race in each colt's career.

Essential Quality, the 2-year-old Champion of 2020 and Kentucky Derby

betting favorite, is installed as the first betting choice for the Belmont Stakes

   This year, all of the colts were bred in Kentucky, and they represent seven stallions, with Curlin the sire of both Known Agenda and Overtook.  Coat colors comprise one gray or roan (Essential Quality), two chestnuts (France Go de Ina and Known Agenda), and five bays.  Six trainers are involved, with Todd Pletcher having three entries: Bourbonic, Known Agenda and Overtook.  All of the colts raced in one other Triple Crown race, with Rombauer the winner of the Preakness; except Overlook, who has finished second and third in two Graded Stakes.  Rombauer and France Go de Ina last raced in the Preakness Stakes three weeks previously, while the other colts are much fresher.

   Here are the entries for the 2021 Belmont Stakes, with the Post Position and entry name, followed by the morning-line betting odds, the sire, and the dam.

1.  Bourbonic                 15 to 1       Bernardini      Dancing Afleet

2.  Essential Quality       2 to 1        Tapit      Delightful Quality

3.  Rombauer                  3 to 1        Twirling Candy      Cashmere

4.  Hot Rod Charlie        7 to 2         Oxbow      Indian Miss

5.  France Go de Ina     30 to 1        Will Take Charge      Dreamy Blues

6.  Known Agenda         6 to 1         Curlin      Byrama (GB)        

7.  Rock Your World      9 to 2         Candy Ride (ARG)      Charm the Maker

8.  Overtook                 20 to 1         Curlin      Got Lucky

   

  

   

   

Preview of the Preakness Stakes 2021 - Entries, Post Positions and Morning-Line Betting Odds

 The Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown in the United States, will be contested on Saturday, 15 May, at Pimlico Race Course - and Medina Spirit, the winner of the Kentucky Derby (even though under investigation), will be running under the trainership of Bob Baffert.

   The 146th Preakness Stakes has a Post Time of 6:47 EDT.  The race has a guaranteed purse of $1 million, and is open to colts and fillies.  This year a field of 10, colts only, will contest the 1 and 3/16 mile (9.5 furlongs) race, carrying 126 pounds each.  Only three contenders from the Kentucky Derby will participate - the winner, Medina Spirit, and 6th and 7th place finishers, Midnight Bourbon and Keepmeinmind.  They will be facing seven fresh opponents.

   All of the colts, except Medina Spirit (a Florida-bred), were bred in Kentucky.  The ten entries represent ten different stallions.   There is one gray/roan colt, three chestnuts, and six bays.  Ram, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, is a ridgling.  Bob Baffert has two entries, Medina Spirit and Concert Tour, as does Chad Brown with Crowded Trade and Risk Taking.  Mike Smith is riding Concert Tour and John R Velazquez is again riding Medina Spirit.

   Following is a list of post position, entry name, morning line betting odds, sire, and dam:

1.    Ram                           30 to 1      American Pharoah     Miners Secret 

2.    Keepmeinmind           7 to 1       Laoban      Inclination  

3.    Medina Spirit             9 to 5        Protonico       Mongolian Changa

4.    Crowded Trade          10 to 1       More Than Ready      Maude S

5.    Midnight Bourbon      5 to 1        Tiznow      Catch the Moon

6.    Rombauer                  12 to 1       Twirling Candy      Cashmere

7.    France Go de Ina       20 to 1       Will Take Charge      Dreamy Blues  

8.    Unbridled Honor       15 to 1        Honor Code      Silvery Starlet

9.    Risk Taking               15 to 1        Medaglia d'Oro      Run a Risk   

10.  Concert Tour               5 to 2        Street Sense      Purse Strings

   

Post Positions and Morning-Line Betting Odds For the 147th Kentucky Oaks

 On Friday, 30 April, the 147th running (or 148th, if you count the two Oaks races in 1959) of the Kentucky Oaks will occur.  It's the first jewel in the Triple Tiara for fillies, and is always run the day before the Kentucky Derby.  This race is for 3-year-old fillies only.  They race at Churchill Downs for a guaranteed purse of $1,250,000.  The girls carry 121 pounds each over a route of 9 furlongs (1 1/8 miles) on the main dirt track.  This year the gate time is listed as 5:51 EDT.

   The post positions and betting odds were drawn and set on Monday.  Today, Ava's Grace, who had drawn the 7 post, was scratched and taken to the Hagyard Equine Center outside of Lexington for a full evaluation.  Her exact problem is unknown, but the trainer and owners decided she needed a thorough check-up.

   With Ava's Grace out of the race, there are now 13 entries, all bred in Kentucky.  Four of the fillies are gray/roan, two are chestnut, and the other seven are bays.  Ten stallions are represented by the thirteen fillies; Flatter sired two, Pass the Champagne and Search Results; Curlin sired three, Clairiere, Malathaat, and Millefeuille.  Malathaat, trained by Todd Pletcher, is the morning-line betting favorite at 5 to 2, and is undefeated.

Malathaat working out for the Kentucky Oaks

   Trainer Steve Asmussen has two entries:  Pauline's Pearl and Clairiene; as does Brad Cox with Travel Column and Coach.

    I am listing the post position, entry name, morning line betting odds, sire, and dam:

1.    Pauline's Pearl             20 to 1        Tapit      Hot Dixie Chick

2.    Maracuja                     20 to 1        Honor Code      Patti's Regal Song

3.    Clairiere                        5 to 1         Curlin      Cavorting

4.    Crazy Beautiful           15 to 1        Liam's Map      Indian Burn

5.    Pass the Champagne   15 to 1         Flatter      Champagne Taste

6.    Travel Column             3 to 1          Frosted      Swingit

7.    Ava's Grace                 50 to 1         Laoban      Cover Girl Elle

8.    Moraz                          30 to 1         Empire Maker      Malvinia

9.    Coach                          50 to 1         Commissioner      And Stay Out

10.  Malathaat                      5 to 2          Curlin      Dreaming of Julia

11.  Will's Secret                30 to 1          Will Take Charge      Girls Secret

12.  Search Results              3 to 1          Flatter      Co Cola

13.  Competitive Speed     50 to 1          Competitive Edge      Shopped Out

14.  Millefeuille                 20 to 1          Curlin      Bandana

Post Positions and Morning Line Betting Odds for the 147th Kentucky Derby

 The posted gate time for the147th Kentucky Derby has been announced as 6:57 pm EDT.  This morning, post positions for the $3 million guaranteed race were drawn, and morning-line betting odds were announced.  Unless there are scratches, a full field of 20 will start the race on Saturday, 1 May, at Churchill Downs.  All of the 3-year-old colts will carry 1126 pounds in the 10 furlong (1 1/4 miles) race. The early betting favorite, Essential Quality, drew the 14 post and has the lowest morning-line betting odds of 2 to 1.

Hidden Stash, post 13 in the Derby, trained by Victoria Oliver

   Of the 20 entries, all are colts except Brooklyn Strong, the only New York-bred, who is a gelding.  There are two Florida-breds, Medina Spirit and Soup and Sandwich; the other 17 entries were bred in Kentucky.   There are two gray/roan colts (Essential Quality, Soup and Sandwich) in the field, six chestnuts (O Besos, Known Agenda, Like the King, Dynamic One, Hidden Stash, King Fury) and 12 bays.  Two stallions are the sires of 5 entries:  Into Mischief is the sire of Mandaloun, Highly Motivated, and Soup and Sandwich; while Curlin sired Known Agenda and King Fury.

Medina Spirit, a dark bay trained by Bob Baffert, will have John R.

Velazquez as the jockey, breaking from post 8

   Four trainers have multiple entries:  Todd Pletcher has four; Brad Cox has two; Steve Asmussen has two; and Mark Casse has two.  Victoria Oliver is the only female trainer, with Hidden Stash.

Midnight Bourbon will have Mike Smith as his pilot, breaking from 

gate 10, with Steve Asmussen as the trainer

   The list of well-known jockeys is dizzying:  Mike Smith on Midnight Bourbon; John R. Velazquez on Medina Spirit; the Ortiz bothers - Irad on Known Agenda and Jose on Dynamic One; Julian Lepareaux on Helium; Luis Saez on Essential Quality; Joel Rosario on Rock Your World; Javier Castellano on Highly Motivated; and the only black jockey in the Derby, Kendrick Carmouche, on Bourbonic.

O Besos is trained by Gregory Foley, and breaks from post 6

  Below I am listing the post position, entry name, morning line betting odds, sire and dam:

1.    Known Agenda          6 to 1       Curlin        Byrama

2.    Like the King            50 to 1      Palace Malice      Like the Queen

3.    Brooklyn Strong       50 to 1       Wicked Strong      Riviera Chic

4.    Keepmeinmind         50 to 1        Laoban      Inclination

5.    Sainthood                  50 to 1       Mshawish      Lemon Hero

6.    O Besos                    20 to 1       Orb      Snuggs and Kisses

7.    Mandaloun               15 to 1        Into Mischief      Brooch

8.    Medina Spirit           15 to 1         Protonico      Mongolian Changa

9.    Hot Rod Charlie        8 to 1         Oxbow      Indian Miss

10.  Midnight Bourbon    20 to 1        Tiznow      Catch the Moon

11.  Dynamic One            20 to 1        Union Rags      Beat the Drum

12.  Helium                      50 to 1        Ironicus      Thundering Emilia

13.  Hidden Stash            50 to 1         Constitution      Making Mark Money

14.  Essential Quality        2 to 1         Tapit      Delightful Quality

15.  Rock Your World       5 to 1          Candy Ride      Charm the Maker

16.  King Fury                  20 to 1         Curlin      Taris

17.  Highly Motivated      10 to 1         Into Mischief      Strong Incentive

18.  Super Stock               30 to 1         Dialed In      Super Girlie

19.  Soup and Sandwich   30 to 1        Into Mischief      Souper Scoop

20.  Bourbonic                  30 to 1        Bernardini      Dancing Afleet   

Soup and Sandwich is a Florida-bred, breaking from gate 19 for

trainer Mark Casse

Pegasus World Cup Invitational Races at Gulfstream Park on 23 January

On Saturday, 23 January, the "big money" thoroughbred races return with the two Pegasus World Cup Invitationals; one at 1 3/16 miles on the Turf, one at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.  These races are for race horses aged 4 and up, whom the Pegasus Cup Board feel are worthy of an invitation.  The races will be held at Gulfstream Park and Casino in Hallandale, Florida.  NBC will cover the races live on television.  Several horses who would have been invited have retired due to an injury or for stud duty.

   The first of the two races has a Post Time of 4:59 p.m. EST.  This is the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, run at 9.5 furlongs (1 3/16 miles), for a purse of $1 million.  There are 12 entries, all male, and all will carry 123 pounds.  They range in age from 4 to 8 years; 10 were bred in Kentucky, with Cross Border from New York, and Say the Word from Ontario.  Nine of the boys are intact, although Cross Border is a ridgling; while Next Shares, Largent, and Say the Word are geldings.  All of the horses are bays, except the morning-line betting favorite, Colonel Liam, who is a gray or roan.

  For these races, I will list the Post Position, entry name (with age), morning line betting odds, sire, and dam. 

 

   Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational         9.5 furlongs        $1 million purse     equal weights

1.   Next Shares (8)               20 to 1        ArchArchArch        Two Dot Slew

2.   Breaking the Rules (6)    10 to 1        War Front        Protesting

3.   Storm the Court (4)        12 to 1         Court Vision        My Tejana Storm

4.   North Dakota (5)            10 to 1         Medaglia d'Oro        Starry Dreamer

5.   Colonel Liam (4)            7 to 2           Liam's Map        Amazement

6.   Largent (5)                      9 to 2           Into Mischief        Life in Seattle

7.   Aquaphobia (8)              20 to 1          Giant's Causeway        Pussycat Doll

8.   Anothertwistafate (5)      5 to 1           Scat Daddy        Imprecation

9.   Cross Border (7)            15 to 1          English Channel        Empress Josephine

10.  Pixelate (4)                   15 to 1           City Zip        Speckled

11.  Say the Word (6)            6 to1            More Than Ready        Danceforthecause

12.  Social Paranoia (5)        8 to 1            Street Boss        Shutterbug

Colonel Liam, the PWCTI morning line betting favorite

   

   The Post Time for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational is listed as 5:44 p.m. EST.  The race covers 9 furlongs (or 1 1/8 miles) on the main dirt track, and has a purse of $3 million.  All entries are males, ranging in age from 4 to 6 years, and all will carry 123 pounds.  Three of the entries are geldings: Tax, Harper's First Ride, and Last Judgment.  Nine of the twelve were bred in Kentucky, with Last Judgment bred in Florida, and  Knicks Go and Harper's First Ride in Maryland.  There are 6 bays, 4 chestnuts and 2 grays or roans.  Mr Freeze is the eldest at age 6.  Paynter is the sire of two entries in this race.

   Pegasus World Cup Invitational           9 furlongs         $3 million purse    equal weights

1.   Sleepy Eyes Todd (5)            8 to 1          Paddy O'Prado        Pledge Mom

2.   Coastal Defense (5)             20 to 1          Curlin        Trensa

3.   Independence Hall (4)         20 to 1          Constitution        Kalahari Cat

4.   Knicks Go (5)                       5 to 2           Paynter        Kosmo's Buddy

5.   Jesus' Team (4)                     8 to 1           Tapiture        Golden Memories

6.   Kiss Today Goodbye (4)     10 to 1          Cairo Prince        Savvy Hester

7.   Tax (5)                                  5 to 1           Arch        Toll

8.   Harper's First Ride (5)        10 to 1           Paynter        Polyester

9.   Last Judgment (5)               20 to 1           Congrats        Fantasy Forest

10.  Code of Honor (5)              9 to 2             Noble Mission (GB)       Reunited

11.  Mr Freeze (6)                    15 to 1            To Honor and Serve       Heavenly Cat

12.  Math Wizard (5)               20 to 1             Algorithms        Minister's Baby

Knicks Go is the morning line betting favorite for the PWCI