BELMONT STAKES COUNTDOWN -- June 6th, 2012

With only three days remaining before the Belmont Stakes, excitement is obviously reaching a crescendo. Anticipation was further bolstered this morning when entries for the mile-and-a-half classic were taken and post positions drawn, creating a flurry of enthusiasm as eager racing fans pour over the past performances in an effort to try and predict whether or not I'll Have Another will prove successful in his bid to win the Triple Crown.

During the post position draw, the main point of interest was whether I'll Have Another would receive an inside or an outside post position. The colt won the Derby and the Preakness when starting from outside gate positions, and everyone knew it would be more than a bit of good fortune if the colt could draw an outside post once again. Fortunately, he drew gate eleven of twelve, which is about as perfect a post as he could have drawn. It will allow him to settle into good position on the outside early on, as close to or as far from the pace as necessary while not being caught up in traffic.

Union Rags was not quite so lucky, drawing gate three. While it is possible that he will be able to overcome the draw, this long-striding colt wants to race on the outside, and may encounter a bit of trouble getting there.

The complete post position draw was as follows:

1 Street Life
2 Unstoppable U
3 Union Rags
4 Atigun
5 Dullahan
6 Ravelo's Boy
7 Five Sixteen
8 Guyana Star Dweej
9 Paynter
10 Optimizer
11 I'll Have Another
12 My Adonis

Dullahan, being a deep closer, wasn't going to be affected by any gate position. However, drawing gate five could enable him to stay a bit closer to the early pace if jockey Javier Castellano decides this is the wisest course of action.

In other Belmont Stakes news, the last horse to arrive on the grounds, Union Rags, arrived this morning and moved immediately into the detention barn. He was followed shortly thereafter by I'll Have Another, meaning that all of the entrants have now entered the detention barn.

Also, the threat of a maintenance crew strike at Belmont Park on Belmont day was ended today when the parties involved negotiated a settlement of the issue, meaning that the race should go on without any issues. A detailed article on the settlement can be found on DRF.com: http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-stakes-2012-nyra-union-reach-agreement-three-year-contract

-Keelerman