News & Notes from the Belmont Stakes

Thanks to Bob Ehalt for keeping Big-Event Blog readers updated with the latest from Belmont Park while I stayed in Lexington, Kentucky.

Here are some quick hit thoughts on this year's Belmont and Triple Crown season in general.

• Those who know me well know I don't bet the races at New York Racing Association tracks because of its high takeout (26%) on certain wagers, including the pick 4. I learned on Saturday that it doesn't matter what the takeout is if you don't pick any winners. Sure, I could point out that the pick four ending in the Belmont Stakes would have paid $12,000 more at Monmouth (15%) or nearly $9,000 at Churchill (19%), but the takeout could be 50% and my return still would have been $0.
• The annual rite of hyping the Travers Stakes immediately after the Belmont is off and running with lots of excitement about the possibility of the three classic winners facing off this summer, and while I agree that such a race would generate more interest for the race among the masses, I really only see Lookin At Lucky as a top threat to be best of his generation among the classic winners. And don't forget what happened the last time the classic winners faced off in the Travers.
• I love that WinStar's second classic win of the year provided the first-ever classic win for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and first-ever Belmont win for Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
• As usual, the Preakness Stakes, which some malign as the "stepchild" of the American Triple Crown series proved to be the best indicator of the talent in the three-year-old crop. The Derby has come back as a negative key race, though obviously the weather plays a roll in that.
• All three classic winners and the Met Mile winner interest me as stallion prospects--a stark contrast from last year when a gelding (Mine That Bird) won the Derby, a filly (Rachel Alexandra) won the Preakness, and another gelding (Bribon) won the Met Mile. Only Summer Bird will enter stud from that quartet of races. Throw in Zenyatta winning the Breeders' Cup Classic last year, and it wasn't a big year for making stallions.
• I really liked NYRA's decision to change things up with the song played during the post parade, but Jasmine Villegas's rendition of Alicia Keys's "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" was easily one of the worst live performances I've ever heard. Although announced as a Sony recording artist, Villegas has heavy ties to the Disney Corp. entertainment juggernaut, which might explain her presence during an event broadcast by Disney's ABC.
• My betting on Belmont day was far worse than my betting on the Belmont Stakes itself. Put another way, I ended a losing day with a winning wager, so I'm hoping to use that momentum to get Vision In Gold home at a big (for a five-horse field) price in the Hollywood Oaks today at Hollywood Park.