According to DRF, Jerkens worked Wicked Strong on the training track rather than
the main track, thinking that WS would work too fast if sent to the main. He
worked the first half in 49.97 and finished in 49.60.
The training track strategy may have backfired a bit because DRF comments that WS
was under \"mild encouragement\" in the final stages of the work, meaning Jimmy
Jerkens might have given the exercise rider instruction mid work to pick it up a
bit.
From what I can gather the horses who have made the best impression training up
to the Belmont are CC and Ride on Curlin. ROC has really gained my respect in
terms of the way he has trained throughout the Spring and obviously after his
good Preakness effort. Oh so hard for me to like ROC to win this race based on
the fact that he has never won past six furlongs.
ROC looks to join Point Given and Afleet Alex as the only Belmont winners since
2000 who raced in both the Ky Derby and the Preakness; CC of course eligible to
join this group. Of the current Belmont possibles, four runners: Commissioner,
Matuszak, Matterhorn and Tonalist look to join Sarava, Rags to Riches, D\'Tara,
Ruler on Ice and Drosslemeyer as the only Belmont winners since 2000 not to
compete in either of the Derby or Preakness. Average mutuel on Belmont winners
who skipped both Derby and Preakness: $62.00.
More factoids: Of the 14 Belmont winners since 2000, 11 have run a new top in
taking the Belmont; Empire Maker, Afleet Alex and Union Rags were the ones who
did not.
The average mutuel for all Belmonts run since 2000: approx $36.00; throw out
Afleet Alex at 6/5 and Sarava at 70/1 and the average mutuel is still a healthy
$31.00.
Heard on TVG (and even they admitted the non relevance (for many reasons) of this
factoid), the accuracy of which I can not verify: All Triple Crown winners raced
at Belmont at least once before winning the Belmont Stakes
