Belmont Stakes/Big Brown/Triple Crown

I am trying to figure this out. If anyone could help me, that would be greatly appreciated. If it's a nine-horse race, I want to find out how many possible trifectas there can be. I never was good about that type of math.

 

9x8x7=504

 

Thanks. So, unless there is a HUGE pay-off, betting $2 on each possible combination would be useless and a waste of time.

 

Yea. That would be more than $1,000 bucks and it's not likely to pay $1,000 bucks unless Big Brown lays an egg.

 

That's the thing. I don't think Big Brown will be able to race all-out for that long on the hoof. But yet, he could be a superhorse and dominate again and then I lose $700.

I have a day to really think about it, though. Once I hear about Big Brown's workouts, I'll think it over. I am really thinking big picture and how it's easier to lose $700 than win $1000.

 

If CD's out, Denis of Cork is second-favorite, and probably the only other horse in single digits. Without CD, BB's odds drop even lower.

 

I only bet on horses ridden by John L. Rotz.

 

. . . then you've been on the sidelines for a long, long time . . . with no hope for parole.

And Little John couldn't even catch Pass Catcher with High Echelon in the '71 Belmont.

 

There are two ways to make money if you want to get involved with a trifecta in this race:
1) Big Brown finishes out of the money, or
2) The two longest shots in the race get in the money.
The 2 horse probably will go off at 75-to-1, maybe higher, so if by chance he sneaks in there (he's the only horse in the field to have actually raced at a mile and a half, and lost by just a nose, albeit it in a very slow time), who knows?

It doesn't make sense for anyone to box every combination because the likelihood is great that you risk $500 and you get back less than a hundred.

I think the more prudent way is to take half the field and put them in every combination to finish first and second, then throw in the rest of the field for the third spot. Even then, you stand a good chance not to make a profit if the three lowest-priced horses are 1-2-3 in any order.

On paper, Casino Drive looked like a legitimate shot to win. If he's a scratch, however, I can't see BB losing -- as much as I'd like to see it happen.

Good luck to all.

 

I may just toss $50 on Ready's Echo to show and hope Johnny Velásquez can finish in the money.