Charitable Man (in the pink silks) wins the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park in preperation for the Belmont Stakes.
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Many owners and trainers try to win the Belmont Stakes with invaders. That is they try to bring a horse into the Belmont from outside the grueling Triple Crown to defeat the likes of a Mine That Bird who will be making his third start in just five weeks.

Perhaps the most dangerous of those horses is Charitable Man, shown above winning the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 9. The Peter Pan is the local prep race for the Belmont and has produced Belmont winners such as A.P. Indy in 1992 and Danzig Connection in 1983.

He was a promising 2-year-old last year winning the Futurity at Belmont Park, but an injury kept him from racing until April when he finished a dissapointing seventh in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Trainer Kirian McLaughlin then pointed Charitable Man toward the Belmont using the Peter Pan as a perfect springboard into a showdown with the Derby-winning Mine That Bird. The fact that Charitable Man is by 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid may have also been a factor is McLaughlin's decision.

Charitable Man appears to have enough tactical speed to be close to leaders in case of a slow leasurly pace and notice how he appears to get stronger through the stretch and even accelerates away from runner-up Imperial Cloud. That's a good sign of fitness in a horse at the end of a 1-1/8 mile race and stamina is of course paramount in the 1-1/2-mile Belmont Stakes.

Charitable Man may need every bit of that energy to hold off a late charging Mine That Bird and perhaps the onslaught of Dunkirk and others as well.

McCoy's New York Cheesecake For Your Belmont Watching Pleasure

What better way to celebrate one of New York's greatest sporting events than with New York Cheesecake. Our chef Michael McCoy gives you his twist on a classicly good dessert - his White Chocolate New York Cheesecake.

Crust - Simple:
2 Cups of Graham Crackers ground up in food processor until
fairly fine. Melt 1/4 pound of butter and mix. Press into a 10 inch
springform pan. Bake JUST the crust at 350 for 10 minutes. Pull out and
cool.

Cheesecake ingredients-
3 pounds cream cheese softened
2 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup flour
Pinch of salt
1 Tbl Vanilla extract (get the good stuff)
12 ounces of Ghirardelli White Chocolate (look people, if we are going deep
please use the good stuff here and don't skimp)

Blend cream cheese in mixer until smooth. Add sugar. Add egggggggs one at a
time while mixing. Add heavy cream. Add flour. Add salt. Add vanilla. At
this point drink some wine so you don't pass out from excitement. Relax and
continue. While the mixer is a go'in, add melted chocolate. Pour into crust.
Bake an hour or a little more (when center sets). Remove from oven, and
loosen edges with a knife. Cool completely.

Rachel Alexandra Decision Will Be Boost To Game

The decision not to run Rachel Alexandra is a dissapointment. It appears obvious though, it is the best decision for the filly in both the long and short run. Based on her work Monday at Churchill Downs and reports from the barn area, she looks as regal as ever in the morning - on the track and to and from her barn.

What most racing fans may not realize, however, is that this should also be the best decision for us as racing fans as well. Sure it would have been thrilling to have a replay of the Preakness with Rachel running on the lead down the stretch in apparent control with Mine That Bird rallying from "no-way" land to "can he catch her?" ville.

One of the effects of owner Jess Jackson' decision not to run Rachel is that he has now placed more national attention on more races. Instead of experiencing any kind of post-Belmont syndrome, we can now all look forward to June 27. That day two major filly and mare races will be run on each end of the coast and where the Rachel Alexandra v. Zenyatta debate will be stoked to the enjoyment of us all.

At Belmont Park, some of the best 3-year-old fillies will convene in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr.I) and it may mark the return of Rachel Alexendra to racing and her return to the filly ranks. If she wins that race, then it will only add to the anticipation of possibly watching Zenyatta later that afternoon in the $300,000 Vanity Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr.1) at Hollywood Park. Both races are at 1-1/8 miles on the main track and both races are against the best in each of their respective divisions.

Then there is the $700,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park on July 11 for older horses (the big boys) at the classic 1-1/4 distance. Not likely either of the female superstars will be in that race, but the winner is sure to face the question of whether he can beat Zenyatta or not. The same questions will likely apply to the winner of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August. Great victory in a grade 1 race. But....

After the Belmont, the best of the 3-year-old colts will be heading to the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug 2. Without Rachel Alexandra, all we may have is a race with Mine That Bird, Dunkirk, Quality Road, Pioneerof the Nile, Muskat Man and the likes. The Jim Dandy at Saratoga on the same day will attract some from this group, but it's still going to be fun. I love Rachel Alexandra as much as anybody other than possibly Calvin Borel, but the law of diminishing return applies when evaluating her addition to that quality of race.

I just got my chrystal ball back from Emmitt at the Mayberry Alarm and Lock Company and just plugged it in before I wrote this. But if it's working, can you imagine races like the Travers... not to mention the Breeders' Cup.

Rachel Removed From Belmont Picture

Statement by Jess Jackson on behalf of Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick
“Rachel Alexandra is an incredible thoroughbred who has proven to be the best three year old in racing today. We are elated by all the attention her wins in the Oaks and Preakness has garnered the sport. The many letters and emails we have received from young girls and racing enthusiasts lets us know that many fans are proud of Rachel. When we purchased Rachel, our goal was to restore the sport’s vitality and grow its fan base by extending the racing careers of its stars.

After careful consideration, we have decided not to run Rachel Alexandra in the Belmont Stakes next weekend. We have advised Calvin Borel, Chip Woolley and Belmont of our decision. We thank them, the media and the fans for their many courtesies and patience while we pondered.

We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes — we feel the same. But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her. While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation. Since March 14, Rachel has won four graded races with just two weeks rest between her last two victories. We will always put her long-term well being first. And, of course, we want to run her when she is fresh.

Rachel, her owners, her trainers and her fans can continue to anticipate an exciting campaign. All major races will be considered as we look to the rest of Rachel’s racing career.”

Belmont Stakes Fun Facts.

Besides being the longest of the Triple Crown races at 1-1/2 miles, the Belmont Stakes has a long and illustrious history and is the oldest of the three races. First run in 1867, the Belmont Stakes is the fourth oldest stakes race in North America, but because it was not run in 1911-'12, the Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously run sporting event in North America having been run every year since 1875.

There are two significant Belmont records that fit the "it'll never be done again" bill. Trainer Woody Stephens won five consecutive Belmonts Stakes from 1982 through 1986 with Conquistador Cielo, Caveat, Swale, Creme Fraiche and Danzig Connection. The seemingly unbeatable standard is Secretariat's world record performance in 1973 when he finished the race in 2:24, a full two seconds faster than Easy Goer in 1989 and A.P. Indy in 1992 who both stopped the clock in 2:26.

Two jockeys have won six Belmont Stakes. Eddie Arcaro accomplished the feat from 1941-'55 and James McLaughlin won six Belmonts between 1882-'88. Julie Krone won the Belmont Stakes on Colonial Affair in 1993 to become the only female jockey to ever take a Triple Crown race.

The Belmont Stakes is perhaps one of the most formful stakes in North America as 60 of the previous 140 winners were favorites. Twelve of those favorites have been odds-odd (less than even odds), with the last two odds-on winners being Affirmed in 1978 at 3-5 and Secretariat who went off at 1-9.

So you're one of those people who like to bet on the grey horse. Good luck in the Belmont. Only two grey horses and one roan have taken the Belmont compared to 53 bay winners and 51 chestnuts.

Alphabetical fans will be interested to know that 20 winner's names began with the letter C. Seventeen horses whose name started with an S have won the Belmont followed by P with 11.

If the long Belmont Stakes exemplifies any quality among it's winners it's stamina. And stamina is one of those mysterious traits that is widely believed to be passed down from generation to generation. So it is worth noting that 15 Belmont winners have been sired by Belmont winners. The great Man o' War leads the list among sires as three of his sons have won the Belmont including 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral. A year later War Admirabl became infamous when he was defeated by Seabiscuit in the match race made famous on the big screen.

Cammando, the 1901 winner, sired Belmont champions Peter Pan (1907) and Colin (1909), two great Belmont winners who now have significant stakes named for them with the Peter Pan being the local prep.

If Rachel Alexandra had run in the Belmont, she would have tried to become only the fourth filly to win the race. Ruthless took the first running in 1867, Tanya won in 1905 and Rags To Riches won a stirring stretch running battle with eventual Horse of the Year Curlin in 2007. Only 22 fillies have tried the Belmont, with Rags to Riches the first since Silverbulletday finished seventh in 1999. The Belmont is a race that Kentucky Derby winning fillies Winning Colors and Genuine Risk could not win.

Mine That Bird Jockey Can Take Page Out Of Rene Douglas Belmont

We are now just nine days away from the Belmont Stakes and we don't yet know if the Preakness winning filly Rachel Alexandra is going to run. After a nice work over a sloppy track on Monday at Churchill Downs, owner Jess Jackson said he will wait until later this week before making a decision.

If you think you're anxious for a decision, just think what jockey Calvin Borel and his agent Jerry Hissam have been going through this week. If Rachel goes in the Belmont, they'll be aboard. If not, they will likely return to the Mine That Bird Camp. That is if Bird's trainer Chip Woolley doesn't decide on a jockey for the Belmont before Jackson decides on what to do with Rachel Alexandra.

Once all these decisions are made, we racing fans can all relax and begin to enjoy the days leading up to the third leg of the Triple Crown.

But the anxiety will only begin for whomever the jockey will be for the late running Mine That Bird. Despite what most might think, the long 1-1/2 mile distance of the Belmont Stakes can be a henderance and not a help for a stretch-runner like Mine That Bird. True, a little extra distance in the 1-3/16 mile Preakness and Mine That Bird may - I repeat may - have caught and passed Rachel Alexandra. The Belmont gives Bird that extra distance. But it rarely provides the most important ingredient for the success of any closer in any race. Pace. And pace makes the race.

Jockeys will ride entire careers and may not ride races further than 1-1/16 miles. If so, it happens only a few times-a-year at best. About 99.99% of all thoroughbreds will never approach a race at that distance in their racing life. Americans like speed and speed doesn't usually fly for a mile and-a-half. Not unless the frontrunner gets an easy, early and unchallenged lead.

This is where the Belmont gets tricky for a jockey though. Many times in the Belmont, regardless of company, the jockeys on the early leaders will keep the pace at a pedestrian level - knowing full well they have a long road to travel before crossing the wire. They want to keep as much gas in the tank for when they hit the top of the stretch and the late runners come calling.

To illustrate this point, I thought what better race to feature than the 1996 Belmont Stakes won by the late running Editor's Note. Notice the fast early pace. They run the first quarter of a mile in 23+ seconds and the first six furlongs (3/4 of a mile) in 1:12 and change. Both rapid fractions for the Belmont. Also notice how far back Editor's Note is in the early stages. He doesn't really appear in the picture until the race is about a third of the way complete. This is a very similar running style to Mine That Bird.

Jockey Rene Douglas eases Editor's Note into contention approaching the far turn then begins to circle the field and put's his horse in a position to win at the top of the stretch. Notice that Skip Away appears to be the winner heading for home, but that's when Douglas flips the switch to the auxillary gas tank on Editor's Note.

Mine That Bird's kick is a little more patient, but dramatic and sudden when he fires. But whomever rides him in the Belmont would do well to study this Douglas masterpiece.

Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund

For those who may have friends who would like to mail contributions or learn more about how to help Rene Douglas and many of the other disabled jockeys, I have posted this from the PDJF Website. You can click directly on their link on this page as well:

The NTRA Charities - Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a special division of the NTRA's nonprofit 501 (c) (3) subsidiary NTRA Charities, has been established to receive contributions to aid the nation's 60 permanently disabled jockeys with their health care and daily living expenses.

Contributions can be made immediately via mail to:
NTRA Charities -- Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund
c/o NTRA
2525 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 400
Lexington, KY 40504

All contributions are tax deductible. Questions regarding the fund can be directed to the NTRA's Lexington office, (800) 792-NTRA (6872).