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Notebook Belmont hasn't been kind to geldingsPosted: Saturday June 08, 2002 2:38 PMNEW YORK (AP) -- The Belmont Stakes hasn't been kind to geldings. Two were entered Saturday: Magic Weisner, runner-up in the Preakness, and Perfect Drift. Creme Fraiche, trained by Hall of Famer Woody Stephens, is the only gelding to win this race, taking it in 1985, part of Stephens' streak of five straight Belmont victories. Geldings ran in the first Belmont in 1867 and continued until 1918. They were barred from the race during the first half of the 20th century and didn't return until 1957 because breeders didn't want a possible champion who couldn't reproduce. Going for historyKentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem wasn't the only one going for history in the Belmont Stakes.D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Proud Citizen, sought his fifth Belmont victory, which would tie him with another Hall of Famer, Woody Stephens for fourth. Stephens won a remarkable five in a row from 1982-86. James Rowe holds the record with eight wins, starting in 1883 and ending in 1913. Samuel Hildreth is second with seven, from 1899 to 1924. "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons is third with six. Triple Crown championsThe first was Sir Barton in 1919. The others are Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978).Fifteen horses won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness only to lose the Triple Crown in the Belmont. Odds and endsThe letter "C" is the most popular for Belmont winners. Twenty colts whose name began with 'C' have won, the last of which was Commendable in 2000. ... War Emblem, the morning-line favorite, was trying to become the third horse with a name that starts with 'W' to win. War Admiral in 1937 and Whirlaway in 1941 were the others. War Admiral also won the Triple Crown that year. ... The blanket of white carnations worn by the winner takes 10 hours to put together and includes 300-400 flowers glued onto green velveteen.
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