Word: belmonte
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...BELMONT STAKES...
Longden asserted that the Count's short career as a race horse can be directly attributed to his single effort at a mile-and-a-half, thus justifying scratching Majestic Prince from the Belmont. Perhaps Count Fleet's fifteen races as a two-year-old contributed more to his unsoundness than his six races at three. Longden and Majestic Prince seem to be quitting a Channel swim in full stroke a mile from shore, but they are quitting winners. Anyway everybody knows that Mom, Apple Pie, and Undefeated Triple Crown Winners are just a mirage...
Without Majestic Prince, how does the Belmont shape up? There are three logical contenders. Dike ran down on his heels in the Derby. He is a one-run horse bred for distance who skipped the Preakness to heal and rest. He and/or his stablemate Jay Ray (third in the Preakness) have a shot at winning. 30 per cent chance...
...Knight, a two-year-old champion, has been trained since the Florida Derby like a sore horse, and has run that way. In the Belmont, should he be entered, he might regain his Florida form. Running in front unhampered by challenging early speed he could hold off the late runners. This is the only way he could win. 10 per cent chance...
Arts and Letters, a late developing three-year-old, has been trained by a master. Eliot Burch has trained other Belmont Stakes winners (Sword Dancer, Quadrangle), and probably has another in the small but long-striding son of the undefeated Ribot. Bred for the classic mile-and-a-half distance, this horse will finally have a chance to show his class on the long backstretch at Belmont. There will be no tight turns to prevent this horse from reaching his best stride. He should win convincingly. 50 per cent chance...