Rick Snider: Belmont Stakes has little juice to speak of

The first Belmont without Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes champions in six years is a snoozer. Derby winner Barbaro is retired after a near-fatal broken leg in the Preakness. That the colt didn’t die will be the biggest story during ABC’s two-hour telecast. Preakness winner Bernardini’s fluke score left even his owner unwilling to validate the colt’s talent in the Belmont.

So the Belmont is a dud. Maybe two-thirds of the usual attendance will reach the New York track. TV ratings will be worse than Arena Football.

The great part of racing is it’s only two minutes so you can catch the race during the commercials of what you’re really watching. A two-hour telecast is more like detention.

It’s too bad the Belmont will be overlooked. It’s actually one of the better racing events to attend. The cavernous track is like all things New York — gigantic. With large trees creating a mini-Central Park complete with a carousel, Belmont’s tieredpaddock provides the best preview of the saddling area in racing. The $5 admission and picnic coolers permitted make the Belmont the best value in sports.

Granted, the 1 1/2-mile track leaves horses looking like dots on the horizon for most of the race. The Belmont’s similar length as the nation’s longest major stakes race also makes handicapping more of a guess, but there’s still money to be made.

The Belmont drew a talented, but inexperienced field. Derby runnerup Bluegrass Cat can prove whether his surprise finish in Louisville was a fluke. Hemingway’s Key’s third-place Preakness showing literally prevented him from becoming a gelding. Sunriver and Steppenwolfer are talented.

The early favorite is Bluegrass Cat at 3-1. Throw him out. A bum.

Bob and John won the Wood Memorial at nearby Aqueduct under legendary trainer Bob Baffert. The Belmont has twice denied Baffert the Triple Crown in photo-finish losses so it would be only fair for the Californian to finally score here. Bob and John will probably drop from 5-1 to 3-1, but tripling your money isn’t a bad return.

Exacta lovers should combine Steppenwolfer, who’s probably 4-1. The third-place Derby finisher skipped the Preakness for this race and has trained well. Those seeking a triple payoff of perhaps $300 can add Hemingway’s Key. Trainer Nick Zito thrives on his home track with Birdstone derailing Smarty Jones’ 2004 Triple Crown bid in the Belmont.

The 2006 Triple Crown that once offered so much promise will now be remembered as the biggest disappointment in a decade. The Derby seemed filled with good horses that have since scattered or been injured. Barbaro seemed a lock to go for the sweep entering the Preakness only to shock the sport with a horrible injury. Now we’re left with watching second-rate runners.

Racing is looking for a hero. Funny Cide, Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex nearly did it the last three years, respectively, with Derby-Preakness victories. Now the Belmont goes from being “The Test of Champions” to a survivor’s guide to racing.

There’s always next year.

Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].