My heart pick has to go with War of Will but I’d also love to see the Japan horse Master Fencer get it.
breeding wise Tacitus looks the best I never really followed him much though.
War of Will and Tacitus, yep. I did think Master Fencer ran much better than expected in the Derby. He has a shot. I would have liked Game Winner for a bit of a not long shot but medium price, I think, given his record this year, except that he’s out definitely now, no real surprise there given his owners. Really wish Maximum Security was running, too. I wouldn’t have picked him to win in the Belmont, but I wish he were running.
Has the field been finalized?
Haven’t seen an updated list yet.
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Field is not firmed up yet. One place I saw (CBS) had 11 possibles while TVG has 13
https://www.tvg.com/promos/belmont-s…ontenders.html
I’ll wait until the field is firm before I decide 
Interesting that 2 that TVG had, I would not pick one of them (Game Winner) and think the other (Code of Honor) might be a good choice.
Gotta get closer to the gate…
I wish MS was running as well. It would make an interesting dynamic.
Tacitus is certainly bred for the distance, and he has been specifically aiming towards this race (according to my “inside” source, anyway!). He’s my top pick. I also want to see War of Will do well, just because I really like him, thought I’m not so sure about the distance for him.
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War of Will has two poor races this year, the Kentucky Derby, in which he had bad racing luck, and the Louisiana Derby, in which he lost his action after the start, maybe jamming his stifle.
His Preakness was a dream trip, but he did outrun everyone else.
He seems to be bred for distance, and he seems like a tryer.
I go for War of Will.
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Pedigree always wins the Belmont. Busy enjoying the weekend and will check the field once the race gets closer.
Still a couple of weeks to see who will actually start. I like Code of Honor, might throw WoW in there but Belmont usually attracts some presumed distance specialists who didn’t start in the other Classics, Some even based there.
Love to hear the conversation should WoW start and win…
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I like War of Will-- have to just love this horse after his two prior Triple Crown races.
I don’t know if he is bred for this distance or not. But he seems like a horse with a lot of heart. I like his Sadler’s Wells grandsire.
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He has stringhalt, which is probably what we saw in the LA Derby.
He is very well bred, top and bottom. They went over to France to get him.
Though he’s a product of much European breeding, War of Will was bred in Kentucky and initially offered at the Keeneland September as a yearling (where he RNA’d). He went to France after that for the Arqana 2yo Breeze Up Sale.
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IKR - he was right in the back yard.
I think Master Fencer will hit the board. He is beyond boring to watch in his works, slow as a snail and the Japanese jock put him into the rail a few days ago during his work. That being said, he’s been at Belmont for a week or so now and he is bred for distance. If he had a few more furlongs to go in the Derby he could’ve won it. He was dead last in the derby and covered a tremendous amount of dirt by the finish line to end up 6th… in the mud. I love the horse, I think he looks great, he’s beautiful to look at, and he has taken the travel thing all in stride. He’s very easy going, workmanhorse-like
I don’t think war of will has enough in the tank to get to the finish line. Maybe on turf at that distance, not on big sandy.
I’ll take Tacitus, War of Will, and Master Fencer. WoW and Tacitus have the two outside positions.
For more of a price, my guy Sonneteer is running in the Brooklyn Invitational at a mile and a half. I’ll put $2 on him. I have loved this horse since seeing him in the flesh in Arkansas two years ago, and I still think he’s going to get his act together and find some consistency some day. His last race was a nice one, gave me a bit of return on my $2.
What do you all think about the Met Mile? That one is shaping up as a really interesting race. I have a soft spot for McKinzie but also would love to see Thunder Snow get a big win over here after his Derby debacle. He’s more than made up for that meanwhile, but it would be nice to complete ridding himself of that image for US fans.
Saturday should be fun to watch.
Here’s another for War of Will. Just because…
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Doubt outside post positions will matter one bit on that track and distance. The gate placement is right in front of the grandstand and that has created some tensikn a few times, favors the more professional minded colts.
Be great if WoW pulls it off and Tacitus looks good on paper and style wise. , Master Fencer is a possibilitybut didn’t he have a training mishap recently? But I like picking longer odds. How about Burbon War with MS? Couple of other closers in there some local, and grinder or two who could stalk. Probably use Tax in some combination, bust in the KD and victim of a bruised foot
last time out but why not, to hit the board though, not win it.
Little fresher horse who is proven to like the racetrack and/or is based there might be the way to go.
Belmont, Master Fencer. Liked how he was closing in the Derby. War of Will, don’t think he can make the distance.
I agree on the Met Mile. My pick is Thunder Snow. He’s grown up a lot since his Derby spectacle.
Some good races for sure Saturday.
I don’t get the support for Master Fencer, who does not have the pedigree to win. Everfast, who finished ahead of Master Fencer in the Preakness, is much better bred and is training really good. Everyone is so in love with a come-from-behind horse for the Belmont, but in reality you need to be pretty close to the lead the whole way round. You need a fast cruising speed and you need to keep grinding it out and not get too tired at the end. Todd Pletcher has won the race 3x, I will be taking a better look at his horses on Saturday if I get home from my competition in time.
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