Handicapping Guide to 2006 Belmont Stakes

By GREG MELIKOV

Some so-called experts say handicapping the Belmont Stakes is the easiest of the Triple Crown races, pointing to the high percentage of winning favorites.

Since 1940, a dozen of 30 odds-on choices won, but the last to do so was ‘78 Triple Crown winner Affirmed. However, during the past 27 years, six post-time favorites lived up to their odds.

That doesn’t mean there has been a scarcity of price horses. In the last 44 years, seven of the highest 10 win payoffs rewarded horseplayers. The largest was in ‘02 when Sarava, with Edgar Prado aboard, returned $142.50.

Prado also rode Birdstone to an upset $74 victory in ‘04, ending Smarty Jones‘ bid for the Triple Crown. He would have been aboard Barbaro if the Kentucky Derby champion hadn’t suffered a career-ending leg injury in the Preakness.

He’s riding in the Belmont after accepting the mount on Deputy Glitters from trainer Tom Albertrani, who saddled Preakness winner Bernardini being pointed toward the top 3-year-old stakes later this summer.

Deputy Glitters has performed dismally since a convincing victory at Tampa Bay Downs. He finished sixth in the Wood Memorial and eighth in the Kentucky Derby.

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