Belmont Stakes 2019 - The starters
Live on https://secure.xbglobal.com/main.aspx on Saturday June 8, 2019
War of Will: The Preakness winner rolls into Belmont Park with a head of steam. Fouled in the
Kentucky Derby, the son of War Front redeemed himself with a resounding 1 1/4-length Pimlico score. Out of Visions of Clarity, a daughter of Sadler’s Wells, War of Will seems to be bred to handle the mile and one-half Belmont distance. He’s now won 4 of 10 starts, earned nearly $1.5 million and seems to have regained the form that led to a pair of early Fair Grounds stakes victories.
Tacitus: Similar to War of Will, Tacitus ripped o 3 consecutive wins earlier this season: an
Aqueduct maiden; the Tampa Bay Derby and the Wood Memorial. Placed third in the Kentucky Derby, just 3 1/4-lengths behind Maximum Security, the original winner, Tacitus is trained by Hallof-Fame conditioner Bill Mott—who also trains 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House. Tacitus comes from off the pace and will have regular rider Jose Ortiz for
the Belmont.
Everfast: Dismissed at odds of nearly 30-1 in the Preakness Stakes, this son of Take Charge Indy roared home from o the pace to fi nish second. Trainer Dale Romans and owner Calument Farm made Everfast a late edition to the Preakness and the move paid dividends. He has a late-running style that suggests he can handle a mile and one-half. He’s won just one race in 11 starts, but also lists a runner-up e ort at 129-1 in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park.
Spino : Dismissed at 52-1 in the Kentucky Derby, Spino raced wide throughout and defeated just one other horse. Why does trainer Todd Pletcher wheel him back in the Belmont? Good question. Before Louisville, Spinoff had 2 wins, a second and a third from 4 starts with a runner-up try in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and a third in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special. With just fi ve starts, the son of Hard Spun could have upside for a trainer who’s won this race 3 times.
Tax: This son of Arch won the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct this winter and was second behind Tacitus in the Wood Memorial. He was dispatched at 35-1 odds in the Kentucky Derby and didn’t do much running. Before that, he had been in the money in all 5 career starts with 2 wins and 2 seconds while racing at Churchill, Keeneland and Aqueduct. He was claimed for $50,000 out of his second lifetime start—a winning maiden effort.
Intrepid Heart: He’s the most lightly-raced entrant in the fi eld and his Beyer Speed Figures
continue to improve. He’s trained by Todd Pletcher, a man that knows what level of talent this race demands. In 23 Belmont starts since 2006, Pletcher runners have accounted for 3 wins, 5 seconds and 4 thirds. This son of Tapit has 2 wins in 3 starts with a third in the Peter Pan as his only stakes experience. He stumbled at the start that afternoon, so the e ort should be adjusted accordingly.