LF: 142ND BELMONT STAKES - Pick a Winner!

BELMONT S. (G1), 11TH-BEL, $1,000,000, 3YO, 1 1/2M, 6:32 P.M. EDT, 6-5

PP	HORSE	TRAINER		JOCKEY	WT
1	DAVE IN DIXIE	SADLER JOHN W	BOREL C H		126
2	SPANGLED STAR	DUTROW RICHARD E	GOMEZ G K	126

3	UPTOWNCHARLYBROWN	MCLAUGHLIN KIARAN P	MARAGH RAJIV	126
4	MAKE MUSIC FOR ME	BARBA ALEXIS	ROSARIO JOEL	126
5	FLY DOWN	ZITO NICHOLAS P	VELAZQUEZ J R	126
6	ICE BOX	ZITO NICHOLAS P	LEZCANO JOSE	126
7	DROSSELMEYER	MOTT WILLIAM I	SMITH M E		126
8	GAME ON DUDE	BAFFERT BOB	GARCIA MARTIN	126

9	STATELY VICTOR	MAKER MICHAEL J	GARCIA A	126
10	STAY PUT	MARGOLIS STEPHEN R	THERIOT H J II	126
11	FIRST DUDE	ROMANS DALE	DOMINGUEZ R A	126
12	INTERACTIF	PLETCHER TODD A	CASTELLANO J J	126

Unlike the years when Birdstone and Da' Tara (Tiznow) triumphed in the Belmont S. (G1), a large number of bettors will be halfway expecting trainer Nick Zito to reach the winner's circle at the conclusion of Saturday's $1 million, 1 1/2-mile classic. This time there is no Triple Crown threat soaking up dollars, and Zito will be represented by two colts who will be among the top-three betting choices. We feel this will be a formful Belmont and will side with FLY DOWN (Mineshaft), the longer-priced of Zito's offerings.

Fly Down has won three of his last four, the only clunker occurring in the Louisiana Derby (G2) two back. Last time, Fly Down made short work of six rivals in the May 8 Dwyer S. (G2), coasting home to win by six lengths. One week later, Fly Down was flattered when FIRST DUDE (Stephen Got Even), whom he had beaten on two other occasions, narrowly missed winning the Preakness S. (G1). Our feeling is Fly Down has the pedigree to succeed as well as the tactical foot to get the jump on his stablemate ICE BOX (Pulpit). While regular pilot Jose Lezcano has opted for the favorite Ice Box, Fly Down picks up Belmont-winning jockey John Velazquez.

Ice Box, the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and winner of the Florida Derby (G1) in his last two, might prove to be the best three-year-old colt in training with a decisive win here. There is little to suggest the distance will prove a hindrance, and he might actually find himself closer to the leaders than we've become accustomed to seeing as the pace does not figure to be the suicidal kind he encountered at either Churchill or Gulfstream. There are few chinks in his armor other then being the morning-line favorite, but some might find a price in the neighborhood of 5-2 or 3-1 a steal.

First Dude turned in an incredible effort at Pimlico, fighting back along the inside to keep it close between him and Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike) after setting a hot pace. We're not sure how much that race took out of him, but we do know he'll be up close throughout and should stick around late as one of the stronger talents in the group. Few know this track as well as Ramon Dominguez, who is much deserving of having a classic added to his resume.

Superfecta bettors have a wide variety of longshots to choose from for the bottom slot. We'll tab DAVE IN DIXIE (Dixie Union) as our kicker. The John Sadler charge had virtually no chance when dropping far behind a slow pace in his dirt debut last time in the Illinois Derby (G3), and while his race two back was no great shakes either, this guy ran credibly in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) and Norfolk S. (G1), the latter against Lookin at Lucky, early in his career. His recent works at Hollywood Park seem strong, and jockey Calvin Borel has become more acquainted with the nuances of the Belmont strip over the past couple of years.

MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein), a credible fourth in the Kentucky Derby after trailing the 20-horse stampede early, possibly benefited from the slop that day having spent all of his career up to that point on turf and synthetic. We'll give him the benefit of the doubt, however, and expect him to show some run for a minor check. INTARCTIF (Broken Vow) is another who seems more at home on turf and synthetic, but he at least has a maiden win on dirt to his credit. The colt only joined the Belmont conversation a few days ago, and we're not convinced this Todd Pletcher pupil will reward his connections' impulses. STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper), the Blue Grass S. (G1) winner, is another whose prowess on dirt we question.

DROSSELMEYER (Distorted Humor) would be a surprise to give Hall of Famer Bill Mott a first classic victory. After earning minor checks in relatively weak Derby preps at Fair Grounds, the chestnut proved no match for Fly Down in the Dwyer as the odds-on choice. He needs a career-best effort. UPTOWNCHARLYBROWN (Limehouse) took down minor prizes in a pair of Tampa Bay Downs Grade 3s, and it's hard to see him stepping up against this kind at a distance probably beyond his best. GAME ON DUDE (Awesome Again) won a very weak renewal of the Lone Star Derby (G3) last time and was well beaten in the Derby Trial S. (G3) and Florida Derby in his two prior starts.

SPANGLED STAR (Distorted Humor), a marginal third in the Withers S. (G3), doesn't look fast enough. Both he and STAY PUT (Broken Vow) look more like allowance or listed class animals.

TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS:	1st-FLY DOWN
	2nd-ICE BOX
		3rd-FIRST DUDE