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Belmont Notebook Baffert tries to explain large Belmont field
Posted: Friday June 05, 1998 10:14 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Trainer Bob Baffert has his own theory on why a dozen 3-year-olds are set to challenge Real Quiet in Saturday's Belmont Stakes. "I think a lot of it is owners just wanting to get involved in it," Baffert said, referring to Real Quiet's bid to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner. "They just want to be part of the moment. It's a million-dollar purse. You can't blame them." The 13-horse field equals the largest Belmont field involving a Triple Crown chance since 1971, when Canonero II faced 12 rivals. He finished fourth behind 34-1 shot Pass Catcher. The winner earns $600,000, second place is worth $200,000, third $110,000 and fourth $60,000. Why bother?Jockey Joe Bravo might be the only one who likes Basic Trainee's chances in the Belmont. The colt is the longest shot in the 13-horse field at 99-1.While Basic Trainee joins Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet and Derby and Preakness runner-up Victory Gallop as the only horses to run in all the Triple Crown races, the Luis Gambotto-owned colt has 15th (last) and eighth-place finishes to show for his efforts. "He's coming into the race well," said Bravo, who worked the colt in 38 seconds over three furlongs on Thursday. "It was an easy work, and when I asked him in the last sixteenth of a mile, he just exploded under me." Added Gambotto: "We have a nice horse, and we have a right to try." Bravo will be aboard Basic Trainee for the first time on Saturday. Quotable"He had that Viagra look. The energy level was there." Trainer Bob Baffert after Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet tried to put exercise rider Larry Damore out of the saddle during a lap around the track on Thursday.Finish linesReal Quiet's owner Mike Pegram rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. ... The largest winning margin in the Belmont was Secretariat's 31-length victory in 1973. ... Count Fleet (1943) had the smallest winning mutuel -- $2.10 -- and Sherluck (1961) the highest -- $132.10. ... 58 of 129 Belmonts have been won by the betting favorite (45 percent). ... Last year's crowd of 70,682 was the third-largest in Belmont Stakes history. The largest was when 82,694 turned out for Pass Catcher's upset of Canonero II in 1971. ... The filly Triple Crown series begins Sunday with the Acorn at Belmont. Countess Diana, the 2-year-old filly champion, and Jersey Girl head a 10-filly field. The other races are the Mother Goose on June 27 and the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 25.
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Bob Baffert has Real Quiet well positioned to be the 12th Triple Crown winner 