2009 Belmont Stakes - Borel's curtain call

The track at 7 a.m. is awesome. Very quiet, just the sounds of trainers and exercise riders working out their horses in the early morning fog.

 

Zero funny hats.

Unless you count my Brook-autographed Indians cap.

 

Travers Day at Saratoga is a mass of humanity that cannot be enjoyed. Too hot, too humid, too many people, too many lines, too much traffic. You'd have to pay me to go on this day.

 

Have nothing against the Travers as an event.

But unless you're a privileged character, to attend is sheer insanity.

Alabama Day is calm and sedate by comparison -- and infinitely
more enjoyable.

 

Oh, it's quite desolate, all right . . . because Siro's doesn't operate except during the thoroughbred season . . .

 

Well then, there you go. I KNEW it had to be pretty quiet.

But as a business owner, who has a place that doesn't bring in a dime 45 weeks out the year? Good luck finding a buyer.

 

1. Chocolate Candy
2. Dunkirk
3. Mr. Hot Stuff
4. Summer Bird
5. Luv Gov
6. Charitable Man
7. Mine That Bird
8. Flying Private
9. Miner's Escape
10. Brave Victory

 

7,4 with 7,4 over ALL

 

And Smarty Jones says screw you!

 

The odds are out for the race...

Chocolate Candy 10-1
Dunkirk 4-1
Mr. Hot Stuff 15-1
Summer Bird 12-1
Luv Gov 20-1
Charitable Man 3-1
Mine That Bird 2-1
Flying Private 12-1
Miner's Escape 15-1
Brave Victory 15-1

 

The fact that the place has been an absolute money machine for decades, even when operating on a six-week schedule, speaks volumes. You can do very well selling
a zillion canned beers a night at $6 a crack.

 

Superfecta box: 2,6,7 and 8.