Afleet Alex Wins Belmont; More Top Races Beyond Triple Crown

Afleet Alex did not disappoint his fans by winning the 137th Belmont Stakes, the dramatic final leg of the Triple Crown, by seven lengths at 2:28.75.

"He's a beast, he's a freak of nature, he's made out of steel. He's the best three-year-old in the country," winning jockey Jeremy Rose enthuses after their victory at Belmont Park on June 11th.

Belmont is Afleet Alex's eighth win in 12 starts, earned $600,000 from the $1 million purse and boosted his bankroll to $2,765,800. Aside from his earnings, the Tim Ritchey-trained colt also officially claims the title of horse racing's top three year old of 2005.

Thus, he will be the clear favorite when he enters his next races in the coming months. He is now being pointed to the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 7 for his next start, then on Aug. 27 at Travers at Saratoga, and the Oct. 1 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. Still after that, Afleet Alex would be pointed to the Breeders' Cup, and Ritchey sees more races as a 4 year old.

Afleet Alex also helped raise funds for Alex's Lemonade Stand, a charity started by an 8-year-old cancer stricken girl, Alex Scott. In the Belmont race alone, the lemonade stand was able to raise $140,000. Afleet's owner, Cash Is King Stable have donated over $100,000 and the Afleet Alex connetion was able to gather another $100,000 for the foundation. All proceeds will go to the pediatric cancer research funds.

For more news and info on Afleet Alex, check out Horses Wild where you will find horse racing betting tips, picks, and odds. With accurate handicapping of the coming races.

Plus see pictures and photos of Afleet Alex and other 2005 Belmont Stakes highlights in the gallery section.

Afleet Alex, winner of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, and the top 3- year old of the 2005 Triple Crown season.

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Triple Crown Newcomers' Profiles, Odds for Belmont Stakes

Afleet Alex and Giacomo, Preakness and Kentucky Derby winners respectively, are top 2 favorites to win the Belmont Stakes. But newcomers are out to give them a tough race for the last leg of the 2005 Triple Crown season.

Andromeda's Hero (photographed) is the only other horse who ran in one of first two Triple Crown races. Nick Zito's horse placed 8th in the Derby, and is following the steps of last year's Belmont winner, Birdstone. (see related story)

Eleven horses are set to start at the Belmont field on Saturday, eight of them fresh in the race and have not gone through the rigorous workouts and demanding races as the two highly favored contenders.

Aside from Andromeda's Hero, newly elected Hall of Famer, Zito, has two other Belmont hopefuls: Indy Storm and Pinpoint (Sir Barton winner).

Peter Pan stakes produced two Belmont contenders with runner-up Reverberate and 4th placer, Checov.

D. Wayne Lukas gave up on Going Wild, after failing in the Preakness and Derby, and sends AP Arrow to Belmont Park. Arrow is the son of 1992 Belmont Stakes winner and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy.

Others in the field are Watchmon, Southern Africa, and Nolan's Cat.

Here are the Belmont starters' post position -- with jockeys, trainers, and odds. Click on each name to view full profile.

1. Nolan's Cat - Norberto Arroyo, Dale Romans, 50-1
2. Pinpoint -- John Vasquez, Nick Zito, 20-1
3. AP Arrow -- Jerry Bailey, D. Wayne Lukas, 20-1
4. Southern Africa -- John Court, Michael Puhich, 12-1
5.Giacomo - MIke Smith, John Shireffs, 4-1
6. Watchmon -- Javier Castellano, Patrick Reynolds, 50-1
7. Andromeda's Hero -- Rafael Bejarano, Nick Zito, 15-1
8. Reverberate -- Jose Santos, Sal Russo, 6-1
9. Afleet Alex -- Jeremy Rose, Tim Ritchey, 6-5
10.Indy Storm -- Edgar Prado, Nick Zito, 20-1
11.Checov -- Gary Stevens, Patrick Biancone, 12-1

For complete 2005 Belmont Stakes contenders profile, plus extensive coverage of the Triple Crown, check out Horses Wild's Belmont Page. For horse racing tips, picks, and odds check out our Belmont Stakes Odds, Belmont Stakes Betting, and Belmont Stakes Picks.

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Afleet Alex Helps Keep a Girl's Dream Alive

When Afleet Alex runs at the 137th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, he's not only doing so to win the last Triple Crown jewel. He's also doing it for a good cause.

The Preakness winner and top Belmont favorite is racing for more than just his second straight Triple Crown race victory, he's also running to raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The charity that started with one simple front-yard stand run by Alexandra Scott, a little girl from Wynnewood, Pa., who raised money for cancer research one glass of lemonade at a time.

Scott was 8 when she died last August after fighting an aggressive form of childhood cancer almost since birth. Her story made national news and her legacy lives on thanks to Chuck Zacney (Afleet's co-owner) and his horse, who have teamed with the Scotts to bring a greater awareness -- and increased donations -- to the lemonade stand.

Although one of them is no longer surviving, the two Alexes' lives are somewhat parallel. The horse had to be hand fed with a beer bottle of milk shortly after birth, and overcame a lung infection.

Alex, the girl, was diagnosed shortly before her first birthday with neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer, was left paralyzed from the chest down after her first surgery. When doctors said Alex would never walk again, Jay Scott said his daughter worked to sit up without assistance and eventually walked without the aid of braces.

Afleet's near downfall during the Preakness reminded Liz Scotts of how her daughter Alex would stumble as she learned to walk, but always catching herself and staying determined to keep going.

Zacney has donated more than $100,000 to the foundation, and the Afleet Alex connection has brought an estimated $100,000 in donations. All the horse's merchandising material bears a lemon logo representing the charity.

Come Belmont race day, Saturday, about 30 racetracks are hosting lemonade stands.

"(Alex's story) has touched lots and lots of lives, and it's something America seems to have gotten behind,'' Afleet's trainer Tim Ritchey said. "I know the racing industry has.''

For complete 2005 Belmont Stakes contenders profile, plus extensive coverage of the Triple Crown, check out Horses Wild's Belmont Page. For horse racing tips, picks, and odds check out our Belmont Stakes Odds, Belmont Stakes Betting, and Belmont Stakes Picks.

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Scrappy T Bows Out of 2005 Belmont Stakes; Field of 11 Expected

The 137th Belmont Stakes loses Preakness runner-up Scrappy T, but trainer Nick Zito enters Indy Storm, an allowance winner on Preakness Day at Pimlico, making his total entries to three for the $1 million last Triple Crown jewel on June 11 at Belmont Park, New York.

Eleven horses are expected to start in the Belmont field. Post positions will be drawn at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Garden Terrace dining room on the fourth floor at Belmont Park.

Robert Bailes, the trainer for Scrappy T, said the decision to skip the Belmont ultimately came down to his concerns about the 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont.

"I wasn't 100 percent confident [with] him going that distance and what it was going to take out of him," Bailes said. "Better safe than sorry."

Zito will have three contenders: Andromeda's Hero, Pinpoint, and Indy Storm. He's hoping that one of them will duplicate Birdstone's 2004 feat. Zito was recently elected to the racing Hall of Fame, a Belmont win would give him a boost when he's officially inducted in August.

Preakness winner and heavy Belmont favorite Afleet Alex arrived at Belmont Park late Saturday afternoon after vanning up from Pimlico. Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo is expected to arrive at Belmont Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Here are the 11 Belmont contenders' list:

AP Arrow
Afleet Alex
Andromeda's Hero
Checov
Giacomo
Indy Storm
Nolan's Cat
Pinpoint
Reverberate
Southern Africa
Watchmon

For complete 2005 Belmont Stakes contenders profile check out Horses Wild's Belmont Page. For horse racing tips, picks, and odds check out our coverage at Belmont Stakes Odds, Belmont Stakes Betting, and Belmont Stakes Picks.

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