2010 Belmont Stakes recap

Six stakes races including the third jewel of the triple crown were on tap and 45,243 were on hand to witness the day's events. The attendance number was the lightest number since 1996 when 40,797 showed up according to the NY Daily News. However there was a total handle of $74 million for the day of racing, that seems like decent handle. The next supercard of racing that NYRA will host is the Travers stakes day card where there will be five or six stakes races on the same card.

There was a person dressed up as a horse patrolling the grounds throughout the day, I saw this costumed person during Memorial day weekend as well. I guess NYRA has a new mascot.

A Stray umbrella provided some entertainment too, apparently a stiff wind knocked an umbrella

off of a table somewhere near the top of the stretch and the wind kept it moving down the stretch. The masses were cheering its stretch run on and it would have passed the finish line if it wasn't for a buzzkill security guard. On to more serious matters now.

The Woody Stephens

This race was formerly known as the Riva Ridge Stakes up until 2000 or 2001. D'Funnybone sat off a hotly contested pace set by Eightyfiveinafifty and Discreetly Mine and made the most of his trip by winning in an effortless 3 1/4 length victory. The charts from this race indicated that the six furlong time in this race was 1:09 2/5 and the final time was 1:22 3/5, the older sprinters ran 1:09 3/5 for the True North Handicap later on.

The Just A Game Stakes

Proviso won by a half length after sitting off of Speak Easy Gal early. Phola ran a good race closing into slow fractions.

The True North Handicap

Custom for Carlos was a big scratch out of this race and it reflected on the tote board, Bribon went off a tepid 5/2 favorite and rewarded his backers with a $7.50 win payout. Snapshot had no excuse this time out after sitting a perfect trip and not capitalizing on it.

The Acorn Stakes

This race kicks off the Triple Tiara sponored by Betfair and TVG, the three races in this series are the Acorn, Coaching Club American Oaks, and Alabama. The original Triple Tiara was the Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks. The CCA Oaks used to be 1 1/2 miles, then it was shortened to 1 1/4 miles, and now it is 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga.

The wide open field of three year old fillies produced a huge win payout with Champagne d'Oro paying $81 to win beating out the 2/1 favorite Amen Hallelujah by a half length. Tanda was circling the field late, came up short in third.

The Manhattan Handicap

All Winchester had to do was run at 1 1/4 miles to get another stakes win, this was his first stakes win since his victory in the 2008 Secretariat. Gio Ponti had to wait for room and it cost him the race. The Clement exacta returned $147 with the longshot of his two runners winning.

The Belmont Stakes

Drosselmeyer was not on any live pick six tickets making for a 900,000+ carryover for Wednesday. For the second time in the triple crown this year a jockey change made all the difference with Mike Smith getting the mount instead of Kent Desormeaux. Mike Smith now has a win in each leg of the triple crown Giacomo (2005 Derby), Prarie Bayou (1993 Preakness), and this year's Belmont.