Rick Needham
RACE #9 - BELMONT PARK - 5:16 PM EASTERN POSTThe Man o' War Stakes
11.0 FURLONGS INNER TURF GRADE I THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD STAKES $500,000.00 PURSE
#7 CURLIN
#1 BETTER TALK NOW
#6 RED ROCKS
#5 SUDAN
For you folks who enjoy a little racing history to accompany their handicapping efforts today ... The Man o' War honors the champion who re wrote the record books in 1919 and 1920. In 1921 he was retired to stud, where he also produced a great record, having siring 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral. Man o' War's name is inscribed in racing's Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, New York. In this year's edition, the 50th running of this Grade I affair, I've put the Horse of The Year, #7 CURLIN on top, but will not "key" him in my boxed "gimmick" wagers. As we saw in this year's Belmont Stakes with Big Brown, anything can happen, and we also have to note that Curlin is making his "turf debut" today ... with his owners testing his skills on the grass today in hopes of shipping him to Europe later to compete in the big grass stake races in Paris. He's won five straight, with four of those efforts also qualifying as "POWER RUNS," will feel that "LASIX LIFT" for the 2nd time today, and will get a return ride from Jockey Robby Albarado ... Albarado has been in his irons on 11 previous times, hitting the board in each, winning 8 times in this streak of racing/riding consistency, en route to a 98% return on investment in the process. #1 BETTER TALK NOW, a 6-1 shot, goes "postward" for the "Saturday Feature" with the skills of the Jockey/Trainer tandem of Ramon Dominguez and Graham Motion in his corner ... they've hit the board with 59% of their entries saddled as a team to date, producing a 11% return on investment in the process.