Belmont Day!

Here's the field for today's Belmont with the morning line odds, which probably have changed. It is an interesting race with Ice Box, the clear favorite because we know he can go the distance and close like lightening. The big question: can anyone else?

$1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I, Belmont Park, June 5), 3YO 1 ½ Miles (Dirt)
Post Horse Jockey Trainer Odds
1. Dave In Dixie Calvin Borel John Sadler 20-1
2. Spangled Star Garrett Gomez Richard Dutrow, Jr. 30-1
3. Uptowncharlybrown Rajiv Maragh Kiaran McLaughlin 10-1
4. Make Music for Me Joel Rosario Alexis Barba 10-1
5. Fly Down John Velazquez Nick Zito 9-2
6. Ice Box Jose Lezcano Nick Zito 3-1
7. Drosselmeyer Mike Smith Bill Mott 12-1
8. Game On Dude Martin Garcia Bob Baffert 10-1
9. Stately Victor Alan Garcia Mike Maker 15-1
10. Stay Put Jamie Theriot Steve Margolis 20-1
11. First Dude Ramon Dominguez Dale Romans 7-2
12. Interactif Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher 12-1

Try to rule out sentiment, like Uptowncharlybrown, (his original trainer suffered an untimely death right before the Derby) and obvious longshots, like Spangled Star and I think what you have left is the makings of a pretty good race.

I think I like a 6-7-11 Exacta Box, even though its very difficult to bet on a horse named First Dude. Don't rule out the other Dude, either. If I were to bet on one horse it would be Ice Box, even though the favorite has only won twice in the last ten Belmonts.

Here's to safe racing conditions and good racing luck!