Some Belmont notes to toss around
Garrett Gomez and Edgar Prado lost out to John Velazquez for the mount on the Todd Pletcher-trained Dunkirk in the Belmont Stakes on June 6. Velazquez won the Belmont for Pletcher aboard Rags to Riches in 2007. Gomez will ride Chocolate Candy for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Gomez was in New York on Monday to work Chocolate Candy and he reportedly told his agent, Ron Anderson, that he liked how the Candy Ride colt finished.
Charitable Man, who impressively won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 9, is now a definite for the Belmont Stakes and that's my early favorite to win the race. He's already won twice over the sandy dirt course, a track some horses don't take a liking to. And, he's a son of Lemon Drop Kid, who won the 1999 Belmont Stakes, thus denying Charismatic the Triple Crown.
On a related note, it mystifies me why Joel Rosario, who has proven himself on the toughest jockey circuit in the country, has not landed any Triple Crown mounts. I know I wouldn't hesitate to put him on a talented 3-year-old in the Derby, Preakness or Belmont. The kid can flat out ride, folks.
Agree with you there! Would totally use Rosario over Bejarano anyday of the week. Rosario is cool, level headed and doesn't get into as much trouble as Bejarano does getting stuck in traffic!