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Home track advantage? Proud Citizen looks to continue success at BelmontPosted: Wednesday June 05, 2002 11:06 PMNEW YORK (AP) -- If there's one advantage Proud Citizen, D. Wayne Lukas and Mike Smith can boast over Triple Crown pursuer War Emblem, it's that they know Belmont Park. Proud Citizen began his racing career at the leafy track, losing his 2-year-old debut by a nose and then winning by 9 1/4 lengths in his second try. Trainer Lukas has won four Belmont Stakes, and Smith was the leading rider at Belmont's fall meet in 1994. "This is kind of like a home court for me," said Smith, winner of more than 4,000 races in his career. "It's also a home court for Proud Citizen. He's shown that he likes Belmont, which could be a problem for certain horses." Some horses don't take to the track's deep, sandy surface, which can cause footing problems that affect the way they run. "He's already proven he's liking it and I've ridden this for about 13 or so years, and I kind of know it pretty good," said Smith, who is now based in Southern California. "So I'd say it's a little bit of an advantage." War Emblem will face 11 rivals in Saturday's 1 1/2-mile Belmont, trying to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and first in 24 years. Proud Citizen was second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness. On Wednesday, he was made the 5-1 second choice behind even-money favorite War Emblem. The horses will be next to each other in the starting gate, with Proud Citizen in post 9 and War Emblem in 10. Proud Citizen flew to New York on Wednesday on the same plane as War Emblem, Perfect Drift and Wiseman's Ferry. Lukas also was aboard the flight from Kentucky. While most of the attention was focused on War Emblem's arrival, Proud Citizen settled into Lukas' barn across the road from his rival. "I think he's really tightened down now," Lukas said. "I know we started off the season a little bit late, but I don't think he's any worse for the wear." Proud Citizen's season began with a seventh-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby on April 6, his first race since September. Then he won the Coolmore Lexington Stakes before running in the Derby. "With the Preakness behind him and three weeks since that race, he should move forward in the Belmont," Lukas said. Proud Citizen received a blanket emblazoned with red FDNY letters from the New York City Fire Department on Wednesday. The colt's three owners said they'll donate their share of anything Proud Citizen earns Saturday to the Twin Towers Fund. Robert Baker, David Cornstein and Bill Mack -- all New Yorkers -- guaranteed a minimum $100,000 donation to the fund, which helps families of uniformed officers who were killed or injured in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. Baker owns shopping centers, Cornstein is chairman of a committee trying to lure the 2012 Olympics to New York City, and Mack is in real estate.
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