Ed Fountaine
The Archive
Belmont adds marker pole to honor Secretariat
Visitors to Belmont Park will notice a new blue-and-white-striped pole, a bit less than a sixteenth of a mile from the finish line, that was erected Wednesday in honor of...
Sloppy Belmont benefits mud-loving Fredom Child at Stakes
With Tropical Storm Andrea working its way up the East Coast, the National Weather Service forecast calls for rain throughout today at Belmont Park, with up to 2 or 3...
Orb 3-1 favorite for Belmont Stakes
After winning the Kentucky Derby as the 5-1 favorite and finishing fourth in the Preakness at 3-5, Orb will be favored again — he’s 3-1 on the morning line —...
Lukas is not caught up in post draw hype at Belmont Stakes
Does post position in a 14-horse field going 1 1/2 miles really matter? Not to Hall-of-Fame legend D. Wayne Lukas, who will saddle Preakness winner Oxbow and live longshot Will...
Lukas, Stevens: Oxbow can repeat at Belmont Stakes
For the New York Racing Association, NBC Sports and everyone else hoping for a Triple Crown, Derby winner Orb’s defeat in the Preakness was a big letdown. But the cloud...
‘Tiz’ a no-go for Belmont Stakes
With post positions for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes to be drawn today at 11 a.m. (televised by MSG and streamed on-line at BelmontStakes.com), a field of 14 has firmed up after...
Filly Unlimited Budget may reward Pletcher with second Belmont Stakes
Todd Pletcher punched his fist into the air, then slapped a hard high-five, an almost-savage snarl of triumph contorting his face. It was June 9, 2007, at Belmont Park, and...
Field of 15 possible for Belmont Stakes
If all 15 horses under consideration for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes run, it would tie the largest field in the race’s 145-year history. Only once before, in 1983, did as many...
Derby winner Orb looking good for Belmont Stakes
Kentucky Derby winner Orb pumped some much-needed juice into Saturday’s 145th Belmont Stakes when he breezed a solid half-mile in :48.30 seconds yesterday at Belmont Park, prompting trainer Shug McGaughey...
Pletcher quintet gets loose for Belmont Stakes
It wasn’t exactly the Charge of the Light Brigade, but the main track at Belmont Park was pockmarked by the hoofprints of trainer Todd Pletcher’s cavalry yesterday morning as he...
Vyjack’s ‘work’ ethic in question heading into Belmont
If you thought this year’s Belmont Stakes would be free of controversy — unlike last year’s — think again. A year ago, with I’ll Have Another going for the Triple...
Ed Fountaine’s Stakes Spot Plays
Mike Lee Belmont Park, fifth race. Purse: $125,000. 7 furlongs, New York-bred 3-year-olds. Post: 3:09 p.m. LOWDOWN: Weekend Hideway easily handled New York-breds the last three times he faced them,...
Lukas duo on track for Belmont
D. Wayne Lukas, who set the record for 14 Triple Crown victories when he saddled Oxbow to win this year’s Preakness, has declared both Oxbow, sixth in the Kentucky Derby,...
‘Soul’ looks ready for Belmont Stakes run
After trainer Dallas Stewart canceled his scheduled workout last Saturday for Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul, saying, “[The Derby] was a hard race on him, and his appetite is still...
Code West unlikely to start in Belmont
Trainer Bob Baffert said he is “probably leaning against running” Code West in next Saturday’s 145th Belmont Stakes after the colt worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 at Churchill Downs...
‘Sahara’ noses out win in Met Mile
For the second year in a row, when two horses hit the wire as one in the Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap, it was too close to call. In last...
Pletcher eyes 5 for Belmont Stakes
Todd Pletcher, who tied the mark he already held with D. Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito by saddling five horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby, could have a record all...
Wide open field for Metropolitan Handicap
Back in the day, Kelso or Forego would pack 130 pounds or more in the Met Mile, giving away up to 24 pounds, and win anyway. There is no such...
Ed Fountaine’s Stakes Spot Plays
Sheepshead Bay Belmont Park, eighth race. Grade 2. Purse: $200,000. 1 3/8 miles, turf, fillies and mares. Post: 4:45 p.m. LOWDOWN: Starformer, trained by Bill Mott, is 3-for-3 going this...
Shug puts Orb back on track for Belmont Stakes
A rubber match in the June 8 Belmont Stakes between Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness winner Oxbow appears more likely after Orb took to the track yesterday morning for...