Category: Belmont Stakes

2020 Belmont Stakes Preview

Thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Triple Crown has gone…a little topsy-turvy.  The Belmont Stakes, usually the last race of the three, is the first this year.  Usually the longest race of the series, it’s now the shortest: just a mile and an eighth. The race drew a field of 10 to contest for a... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
June 17, 2020 at 9:22 pm
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2019 Belmont Stakes Preview and Saturday Stakes Selections

This year’s Triple Crown season has been a rollercoaster.  The Derby featured its first-ever disqualification of a first-place finisher for interference in the race, after Maximum Security drifted out to interfere with War of Will, Bodexpress, and Long Range Toddy.  Two weeks later, in the Preakness, War of Will found his redemption. Bodexpress, on the... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
June 7, 2019 at 12:12 pm
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2019 Belmont Gold Cup Preview and Belmont Thursday-Friday Stakes Selections

As the Breeders’ Cup is in the fall, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is at the end of spring. The weekend has established itself as American racing’s top midyear showcase, and the action begins Thursday. Picks and Ponderings will, of course, turn its eyes toward Belmont this week.  In addition to fully previewing the Belmont Gold Cup here,... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
June 5, 2019 at 7:31 pm
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2018 Belmont Stakes Preview and Saturday Stakes Selections

For the first time since American Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015, there’s a Triple Crown on the line.  Once again, that Triple Crown prospect hails from the barn of Bob Baffert, drawing comparisons to American Pharoah.  He comes into the Belmont undefeated, inspiring Seattle Slew references from his most steadfast boosters and Smarty... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
June 6, 2018 at 5:08 pm
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2018 Belmont Gold Cup Preview and Belmont Thursday-Friday Stakes Selections

Though the top racing story leading into the weekend is Justify’s bid for a Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival ensures that it is not the only one worth following.  With top-class stakes races across all ages and divisions, the weekend has established itself as American racing’s top midyear showcase, and the action begins... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
June 4, 2018 at 11:17 pm
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2017 Belmont Stakes Point/Counterpoint and Saturday Belmont Park Stakes Selections

We’ve reached the Belmont Stakes.  The Test of the Champion, the third jewel of our Triple Crown, drew a competitive field of twelve to compete for a $1,500,000.  There’s no Triple Crown on the line — but no shortage of glory on the line, and an opportunity to end the first half of the three-year-old... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
June 7, 2017 at 8:22 pm
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2017 Belmont Gold Cup Preview and Friday Stakes Selections

Over the last few years, Belmont Stakes weekend has established itself as American racing’s midyear showcase.  With top-class stakes races across all ages and divisions, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival demands the attention of the racing world whether or not there is a Triple Crown at stake. Picks and Ponderings will tackle both Friday and... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
June 6, 2017 at 8:07 pm
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2016 Met Mile Preview and Saturday Belmont Park Stakes Selections

Here at Picks and Ponderings, we turn our attention to stakes races at a pair of tracks: Belmont and Arlington. Our Belmont coverage starts on Friday, though, with our New York Stakes preview and Friday selections.  It continues Saturday.  This preview will focus on Saturday’s Met Mile — and the bottom of the page contains... Read more »
By Nicolle Neulist,
June 9, 2016 at 8:28 pm
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2016 Belmont Stakes Preview

The Belmont Stakes.  The Test of a Champion.  The third and final jewel of the American Triple Crown. This time around, there is no Triple Crown on the line after EXAGGERATOR turned the tables on Nyquist in the Preakness Stakes.  While Nyquist had an elevated white blood cell count and is passing this race, EXAGGERATOR... Read more »
By Paul Mazur,
June 8, 2016 at 10:26 pm
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Voters, American Pharoah, and Dialogues

My Picks & Ponderings teammate Nicolle Neulist came out in support of Martha Claussen.  If you aren’t sure who she is, she’s the lone dissenting voter who did not select AMERICAN PHAROAH as the top all-ages horse in the recently completed NTRA poll. And it should be noted before proceeding that I’m one of the... Read more »
By Paul Mazur,
June 8, 2015 at 9:57 pm
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