Third Time’s The Charm for The Bozos

After the Bozos destruction in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes is finally here, and redemption is at hand. The disappointment of longshots Verifying in the Derby, and of Perform in the Preakness, are in the rearview mirror.

Forte, who we liked in the Kentucky Derby but was scratched the morning of the race with a bruised foot, is back after a 10-week layoff, to challenge for a victory on his home track. Owner Mike Repole, a Queens guy who made it big in the Sports drink biz after graduating from Bozo’s Holy Cross High School, has had equal success on the track. Partnering with Garden City resident, trainer Todd Pletcher, Repole has won both the Kentucky Derby with Nyquist and the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Vino Rosso.

Even with the layoff since his Florida Derby win over Derby winner Mage, Forte, 6 for 7 lifetime and two-year old champ is the horse to beat and could be the (around 5-2) favorite. You will hear the phrase, “the best 3-year-old in training until somebody beats him on the track” today. Number 6 Forte with Irad Ortiz Jr. on board is our pick to win. He possesses the tracking style and late kick to make a winning stretch run.

Next up to consider are #4 the Preakness winner National Treasure and the show horse from the Derby Brad Cox’s Angel of Empire (Flavian Prat). Bob Baffert trained and ridden by John Velasquez, National Treasure has the necessary speed to lead or be up close throughout the race and the stamina to be around at the end. Angel of Empire #8 trained by Brad Cox, has the highest speed figure in the race and closed well in the Kentucky Derby after winning the Arkansas Derby in April. We like both Angel of Empire and National Treasure for second and third either way.

An interesting horse from the powerful stallion Arrogate, #3 Arcangelo is a threat to win after scoring an impressive stretch-running victory over the Belmont surface in the local prep race for the Belmont, the Peter Pan. Jockey Javier Castellano, who won the Marty Ryan Memorial at Gulfstream in 2020 and the 2023 Kentucky Derby with Mage in May is atop Arcangelo. At 8-1 he offers decent value and will fit well on the back end of triples.

The “hot horse” of the day is #7 Hit Show, trained by Brad Cox. The smart guys are picking him off an impressive 5th place finish in the Derby, one of a very few that held their place after most collapsed under the fast pace in that race. Hit Show will be bet down but could also land a spot in the money.

Pletcher’s “other” horse, the Blue Grass winner Tapit Trice disappointed in Kentucky (7th) but reportedly has been training well is a definite contender. At relatively low odds of less than 5-1, he doesn’t really offer value in this nine-horse field.

#9 Red Route One seems a bit too slow to compete in the 1 ½ mile Belmont but is a closer and could be passing tired horses in the end.

#1 Tapit Shoes and #5 Il Miracolo are entered so their owners can get a good seat in the Clubhouse at Belmont Day at one of the most beautiful parks in the country and an enjoyable place to spend a Saturday afternoon in New York.

We would be remiss if we forgot to mention that today is the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s historic 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont. A record that will never be broken 2:24 for the mile and a half will be celebrated.

The Wagers:

Forte to WIN (#6 to WIN)
Exactas Boxes: Forte, National Treasure and Angel of Empire (EBX 4-6-8)
Trifectas: (6/4-8/2-3-4-7-8)

Race #12 Belmont Post time 7:02 pm on fair and balanced FOX.

-Head Bozo