Contenders for the 2008 Belmont Stakes

Before you jump on the Big Brown bandwagon, there are some contenders in the Belmont Stakes field that would love to spoil the Big Brown party.


Let's take a look at the 2008 Belmont Stakes contenders which we’ve listed below in no particular order…

Anak Nakal
Trainer: Nick ZitoFinishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby and sitting out for the Preakness Stakes, Anak Nakal is trying once more in case third time really is the charm. Since his win at the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in November, he hasn’t managed to place in the top five of any of the races he’s run. His sire, Victory Gallop, won the Belmont 10 years ago. Maybe Anak Nakal will celebrate the anniversary by winning.

Behindatthebar
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Behindatthebar missed the Kentucky Derby in order to prepare for Preakness, but then had to skip Preakness due to a bruised foot. This could mean two things for Behindatthebar. Either he’ll be slow after taking it easy to heal his injury, or he’ll get a rush from weeks of pent-up energy after not being able to race.

Big Brown
Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.
Big Brown isn’t just making history as the juggernaut of the horse racing world; if he wins Belmont, he’ll also be the first Triple Crown champ to have done so in 30 years. His agility left many speechless after the Preakness and now the only thing left to ask is whether or not he’ll be able to keep up the momentum he’s been running with.

Casino Drive
Trainer: Kazuo Fujisawa
It’s being argued that if anyone were to take Big Brown down, it’ll be Casino Drive. He doesn’t have many races under his harness but the experience he’s had is worth mentioning. He won his first race in Japan by 11 ½ lengths. He won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont by 5 ¾ lengths. And if genes count for something, then you should take note that he’s the brother of the last two Belmont Stakes winners.

Denis of Cork
Trainer: David Carroll
Denis of Cork was a little rusty going into the Kentucky Derby but nonetheless came out in third place. He had won three races beforehand and placed fifth at the Illinois Derby. At the Kentucky Derby, he managed to get from last place to third. It seems as though he knows how to maintain a winning streak and get back up if he falters. Looks like he might prove to be another one of Big Brown’s competitors.

El Gato Malo
Trainer: Craig Dollase
Started off as an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby but then came up short on graded earnings after placing second in the Sham Stakes and fifth in the Santa Anita Derby. El Gato Malo thus missed the Kentucky and the Preakness and is debuting in the third leg of the 2008 Triple Crown.

Icabad Crane
Trainer: Graham Motion
At the Preakness Stakes, this colt was bringing up the back before racing hard to finish in third. He is continuously improving with the help of a great trainer and jockey, but when dethroning Big Brown is at stake, he’s going to need all that and then some. Hopefully June 7 might be the day he chooses to be a chip off the old block. His father, Jump Start, won the Belmont Stakes in 1992.

Macho Again
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Placing second at the Preakness Stakes might be the closest Macho Again will ever get to beating Big Brown. Macho Again will need to focus on speed and agility to keep up with Big Brown.
Tale of Ekati Trainer: Barclay TaggRacing in spurts during the Kentucky Derby, Tale of Ekati managed to finish fourth. He’s swift and doesn’t give up, two key traits needed during the “Test of the Champion.”

Tomcito
Trainer: Dante Zanelli
To Tomcito’s advantage, he’s already won a 1.5 mile distance this year. To his disadvantage, he’s currently recuperating from minor throat surgery. Tomcito and his trainers are taking it day by day to see if he’ll be able to race at Belmont. Like El Gato Malo, short earnings after placing third in the Florida Derby and seventh at the Peter Pan Stakes kept Tomcito from qualifying at the Kentucky Derby.

Big Brown Triple Crown

Big Brown demolished 11 rivals Saturday afternoon at Pimlico in the 133rd Preakness and now will return to New York in hopes of becoming Thoroughbred racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner when he goes to post in the 140th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y.

Owned by IEAH Stable and Paul Pompa Jr., the Boundary colt will hope to be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 when he goes in the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes, the “Test of the Champion” that is the oldest and longest leg of the Triple Crown.”
Not only is this the 30th anniversary of Affirmed’s Triple Crown, but the 60th of Citation’s Triple Crown in 1948.

Although Big Brown easily won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the Belmont Stakes looms ahead and it has thwarted 18 others who sought the Triple Crown. Those were:

1944 – Pensive
1958 – Tim Tam
1961 – Carry Back
1964 – Northern Dancer
1966 – Kauai King
1968 – Forward Pass
1969 – Majestic Prince
1971 – Canonero II
1979 – Spectacular Bid
1981 – Pleasant Colony
1987 – Alysheba
1989 – Sunday Silence
1997 – Silver Charm
1998 – Real Quiet
1999 – Charismatic
2002 – War Emblem
2003 – Funny Cide
2004 – Smarty Jones

RACING’S TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS:
Sir Barton, 1919
Assault, 1946
Gallant Fox, 1930
Omaha, 1935
Citation, 1948
Secretariat, 1973
War Admiral, 1937
Seattle Slew, 1977
Whirlaway, 1941
Affirmed, 1978
Count Fleet, 1943