Belmont Preview

Afleet Alex is the probable favorite for the Belmont (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

However, a shining star remains in AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet), who looks
like a standout in the “Test of Champions.” A $75,000 two-year-old in training
purchase, the Florida-bred was a runner from the get-go, capturing his first
four starts, including the Hopeful S. (G1), before wrapping up his juvenile
campaign with runner-up finishes in the Champagne S. (G1) and Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile (G1). A wide trip cost him dearly in the latter, and Afleet Alex had to
settle for second to Declan’s Moon (Malibu Moon) in the Eclipse Award
voting.

The Tim Ritchey trainee opened 2005 with great expectations and following a
victory in his first start, the six-furlong Mountain Valley S., he stretched out to two turns for the Rebel
S. (G3). A lung infection resulted in the only poor performance of Afleet Alex’s
career, but the bay colt quickly recovered from the malady to capture the
Arkansas Derby (G2) in his next start, closing powerfully through the stretch to
win by eight lengths and earning a 107 BRIS Speed rating.

Afleet Alex couldn’t reproduce that effort three weeks later in the Kentucky
Derby, but he performed courageously to make a bid for the lead in the stretch
before finishing third by only a length. He improved substantially off the
Kentucky Derby in Baltimore, offering an impressive run to sweep to the front of
the pack leaving the far turn of the Preakness. The final margin would’ve been
much greater had Scrappy T (Fit to Fight) not interfered with him, but Afleet
Alex showed his tremendous athleticism to quickly regain his stride after
stumbling and went on to the easy 4 3/4-length decision.

Pinpoint will try to follow in Sarava’s hoofsteps by turning a Sir Barton win into a Belmont victory (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

CHEKHOV (Pulpit) offers some opportunity for value on the bottom of the
exotics. A $3.3 million purchase, he placed in his first two starts in maiden
special weight company and then stepped up to face stakes rivals in the Sham S.,
closing determinedly to be a close fifth following a slow start. The Patrick Biancone charge then broke his maiden in impressive fashion, earning a 102 Speed
figure, while drawing off to a 8 1/4-length margin in the blink of the eye. The
Peter Pan S. (G2) came next and, after being bumped at the start, Chekhov
offered a strong middle move to reach contention on the far turn before
flattening out through the stretch to be fourth. He gained valuable seasoning
and has trained forwardly since then at Saratoga. Chekhov is bred to run all day
and figures to keep improving significantly for his connections. This is a
difficult spot, but the talented colt could put it all together with a strong
showing from off the pace.

PINPOINT (Peaks and Valleys) could hold for a share with his speed. Well bred
for the distance on his female side and one of three Belmont starters for Hall
of Fame inductee Nick Zito, the dark bay enters the Belmont off three straight
wins, going from maiden special weight to allowance to the Sir Barton S. at
Pimlico most recently. The improving colt’s Speed ratings are getting stronger
and Pinpoint figures to set pedestrian fractions because nobody wants to be up
next to him banging heads in the early stages. Speed is always dangerous,
especially in marathon dirt races, and Pinpoint may last a lot longer than
expected.

GIACOMO (Holy Bull) is the Kentucky Derby winner and offered a decent rally
for third in the Preakness. The gray has earned surprisingly low Speed ratings
(101 and 100 twice) from his last three starts, but he always delivers an honest
effort and may show more here for trainer John Shirreffs with a resounding
finish. Another second or third-pace finish looks very possible, but there will
be no value with him.

Indy Storm will try to make the Belmont his first stakes win (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

INDY STORM (A.P. Indy) had been making steady progress in his recent outings
and broke through with a sharp two-length score last time on the Preakness
undercard. He faces a steep class hike off that allowance win, but the expensive
colt ($750,000 purchase) is at least heading in the right direction for Zito and
looms a threat to pick up the pieces for a minor award from off the pace.
ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) has been compared to last year’s Belmont
winner, Birdstone, but the only similarity is that they’re both trained by Zito.
Birdstone, a Grade 1 winner at Belmont Park, loved the sweeping turns and had
earned a triple digit Speed rating beforehand. Andromeda’s Hero has never
started at Belmont, never earned a decent Speed figure and has been no factor in
his last three starts. We’ll let the chestnut surprise us.

A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) came home quickly when breaking his maiden in a 1
1/4-mile event at Churchill Downs last out, and the late blooming D.
Wayne Lukas runner owns stakes experience, making his second career start in the
Santa Anita Derby (G1). The chestnut looks talented and may be a
strong factor in future stakes events, but he’s probably not good enough yet.
NOLAN’S CAT (Catienus) finished a close second to A. P. Arrow and will enter the
Belmont with a 0-3-1 record from five starts. Like A. P. Arrow, Nolan’s Cat is
certainly eligible to develop into a nice stakes performer, but he doesn’t look
fast enough currently.