For the third straight time, I will be looking to beat Justify. I have failed twice in the Derby and the Preakness and odds are I will fail again in today's Belmont. I have lost count of the number of friends who have asked me if Justify can do it.....if he can, in fact, be the 13th horse in history to win the Triple Crown. I honestly hope he does it and if he's on the lead coming down the stretch, no matter what my bets are, I'll be yelling for him, just like I did with American Pharoah in 2015. That day I was actually in attendance, today I'll be watching from the comfort of my den.
People assume that because I own horses that I have some sort of "inside information," or that I must be a horse racing handicapping savant......insert buzzer sound here.....neither are true. I can't even remember the last time I cashed a ticket for the KY Derby or Preakness. I have faired better on Belmont Day. In other words, my advice and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
So, here we go. I love Hofburg to win this race. First off, he is the only son of Tapit in the race, who has sired three of the last four winners of the Belmont, along with a second and a third. The only time in the last four years that a son of Tapit didn't win the Belmont was when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown. Hofburg also had a terrible trip in the Derby and after the race galloped out past Justify and all the other horses in front of him, displaying stamina. Hofburg also skipped the Preakness, so he should have fresh legs heading into the race. Irad Ortiz, Jr., one of the top NYRA jocks is in the irons, I think he'll have Hofburg expertly placed as they turn for home.
Bravazo and Tenfold both took aim at Justify in the Preakness and both blew past him as they galloped out. Tenfold is by Curlin, out of a Tapit mare, so I believe he has the pedigree to be right there.
I will be making an exacta key box with Hofburg over Bravazo, Tenfold and Justify, along with a trifecta box and superfecta box with those same four horses. I cannot ignore that Justify could still run a good race and be right there in the mix.....you can never count jockey Mike Smith out.
Enjoy the race.
