Handicapping the Belmont field

With the Belmont Stakes coming this Saturday, June 11 Mucho Macho Man will be coming to dance, not only with a new pair of shoes but with a new dance partner.
Curtis Burns who became the colt’s new blacksmith and is based in Florida was flown to New York to fit the colt with a new pair of dance slippers. He will run the Belmont with a new set – synthetic glue on shoes designed by Burns. Trainer Kathy Ritvo told the Daily Racing
Form, “Hopefully this does the trick.” The shoes cost Mucho Macho Man’s connections $500.
Another change for the colt will be his jockey. Ramon Dominguez. New York’s leading jockey was aboard the colt for his final workout over the Belmont surface.
Another tidbit regarding this leggy chestnut colt, he must be bathed in warm water. According to his trainer Ritvo, “He hates cold water and if you try to give him a bath in cold water, he starts stamping his feet and lets you know he doesn’t like it one bit.”
Another Belmont Stakes hopeful sharpened up his legs in a final workout at Churchill Downs. Nehro, who was the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and did not race in the Preakness, worked six furlongs in 1:12.20. His trainers felt he went great regarding his workout.
Nehro like five of the last eleven Belmont winners will try the route of running in Derby but skipping the Preakness. His final work was planned for the Belmont surface well before race day.
Other Belmont players had full menus preparing for their place in 143rd Running of Belmont Stakes this Saturday. Animal Kingdom, after arriving from his Fair Hill, Maryland training center, worked the main Belmont surface. Meanwhile Preakness winner Shackleford arrived over the Memorial Day weekend for his rematch with Animal Kingdom. This will mark the first time since 2005 that a Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness winner will face off in the Belmont Stakes.
Also having final workouts were Ruler On Ice. His trainer Kelly Breen reported that the colt is doing well. Breen also told reporters that Ruler on Ice would stay at Monmouth Park as long as possible before shipping to Belmont Park.
Brilliant Speed, who was seventh in the Kentucky Derby, continues his prep for Belmont. He will have two works preparing for the dance. His trainer Tom Albertrani told the media he feels everything is the same as Derby week. “He’s doing everything you want to see a horse do going into the race.”
Stay Thirsty, Queens resident Mike Repole’s horse, also breezed over this past weekend preparing for his place in the Belmont. Santiva, who finished sixth in the Derby, will also hit the starting gate for the Belmont.
Picking the Stakes is no easy task. But this handicapper is going to take a shot with second or third choice Nehro. His Derby second place finish was quite strong. He started from the 19 post and worked his way just to lose to Animal Kingdom at the finish. There is no doubt Animal Kingdom has run two strong races in a row, but we are going to take a shot and try beating the post time favorite. Mucho Macho Man will rebound and get third spot.
Our ticket will be Nehro, Animal Kingdom and Mucho Macho Man.