Belmont Stakes - 12F Dirt TRIPLE CROWN - COMPLETED!

Weather
Clear

Course: Dirt
Fast

Current Record
2:31.4 (Rancor 2016)

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Post Positions (per Random.org)
1. Thistle
2. Horus
3. Cahokia Sky
4. Coco
5. Gracie
6. Checkers
7. Girl Gone Wild
8. Cancer
9. Yokai
10. Mary Lou
11. Riot
12. Heathen

All colts carry 126 lbs
All fillies carry 121 lbs

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Post Time Odds

1. Thistle: 11 - 1
2. Horus: 4 - 1 (f)
3. Cahokia Sky: 9 - 2
4. Coco: 5 - 1
5. Gracie: 30 - 1
6. Checkers: 9 - 1
7. Girl Gone Wild: 6.5 - 1
8. Cancer: 16 - 1
9. Yokai: 5 - 1
10. Mary Lou: 9 - 1
11. Riot: 31 - 1
12. Heathen: 7 - 1

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Call

Three weeks ago, Horus managed to repel both Coco and Cahokia Sky in a determined run to the wire in the Preakness Stakes, setting himself up for that coveted Triple Crown that so few have been able to accomplish. However we now move on to the real test - 12 long furlongs at beautiful Belmont Park, around three sweeping turns in the longest distance of the series and the one that will make or break a champion. Not all horses can handle the sweeping mile-and-a-half distance, and after a grueling season consisting of both the Classics, Dubai and the Olympics, does Horus have enough left to seal the deal at the Big Sandy?

Horus is the very narrow favorite here off his two classic wins, and he'll be the one to watch to see if he'll break cleanly and able to get in good position to strike. Cahokia Sky will likely be hot on his heels after a powerful third place finish in the Preakness, and there is no counting this big strapping colt out after that impressive performance. Coco may have lost her own triple, but she came close to derailing Horus last out and she may just been talented - and spiteful - enough to take him down over 12 furlongs. Late running Yokai may also figure to have a shot here today, as the colt has down well over the longer distances of the English Triple, and he has shown a preference for longer races. Girl Gone Wild is fresh off a layoff that last saw her take third in the Black-Eyed Susan, and if her Acorn performance is any indication, she is raring to go at this 12 furlong distance. Heathen completed his own Triple by taking three medals in the Olympics, and while none came at 12 furlongs, he was closest of all with a third in the Classic and figures to hold an ace today with his tactical speed and outside pose. Both Mary Lou and Checkers are tied in the betting, with both showing marked improvement in graded company and at longer distances. Guineas winner Thistle is double digits after some questionable runs on dirt, and sprinter Cancer is another question mark as 12 furlongs is well beyond his wheelhouse. Gracie clocks in as second to last choice after a number of subpar efforts and the longest shot goes to Riot, who has inherited his mother's penchant for running big at long odds.

It's a gang of familiar faces and flying dirt as these 12 colts and fillies take to the track for the final spring classic. It's all on the line for Horus as he seeks to become only the third Triple Crown winner on the forum, with the rest of the field looking to play the upset over 12 long furlongs on the Belmont main track.

The Triple Crown all comes to an end NOW on Seeing Stars!



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Results
1. (3) Cahokia Sky - 2:31.3 (new stakes record!)
2. (2) Horus (1/2 length)
3. (6) Checkers (neck)
4. (12) Heathen (3/4 length)
5. (11) Riot (1 1/4 lengths)
6. (4) Coco (1/2 length)
7. (9) Yokai (head)
8. (5) Gracie (1/2 length)
9. (7) Girl Gone Wild (head)
10. (10) Mary Lou (neck)
11. (1) Thistle (head)
12. (8) Cancer (3 1/2 lengths)

Places 1 - 5 take your points, while 6 - 12 will earn 1 pt for tenacity and 1 pt for response.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CAHOKIA SKY FOR WINNING THE BELMONT STAKES!

It's a banner day for Midgard as not only Under The Mask derails a Triple Tiara, Cahokia Sky dashes Horus' hopes for his own coronation.

Horus broke slowly as is his custom, with Cancer and Coco charging to take control of the pace. Horus dropped back to as far as sixth in the backstretch as Heathen, Mary Lou and Cahokia Sky ran up on his heels with Cancer shaking free on the front end momentarily as they came to the final turn. Horus turned on the gas at the rail and gunned it for the front with a quarter mile left to run, while Cahokia Sky split horses near the outside and Heathen taking his own shot at his stablemate coming into the stretch. With a furlong left to go, it looked like Horus would be crowned our third Triple Crown winner - except Cahokia Sky wasn't showing any signs of stopping and Checkers, of all horses, was roaring from the back of the field to take dead aim at Horus and Cahokia both! Horus gave it a valiant effort, but Cahokia Sky just kept rolling and it was all Horus could do to hold off the monstrous run of Checkers as they all hit the wire together. If it's any consolation to Horus - Cahokia Sky had to set a stakes record to beat him!

It's been a wild spring as first Heathen, then Coco and finally Horus decimated their rivals on the Derby trail, with Horus coming out on top in both the Derby and the Preakness, before finally succumbing to the Test of Champions. Cahokia Sky ran the best race of his life to beat the Hard Tack homebred, and he has no doubt earned himself some nice time with the ladies to celebrate his achievement!

With the Triple Corwn done for another year and the Olympics behind us, we now head to the year end championships - the Breeders' Cup! How many of these colts and fillies will reappear with the the Classic on the horizon? I hope most of them, as this was a superb field of horses this year and I hope to see many of them in the fall!

Tagged Owners: Aragorn, Jewellz, Ryder ☆, valeera

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Time
Quarter Splits: 25.2 | 50.8 | 1:16.2 | 1:41.6 | 2:07 | 2:31.3
Final: 2:31.3

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