| |
 Beginnings Charismatic's race for the Triple Crown starts at post No. 4
Posted: Wednesday June 02, 1999 04:11 PM
ELMONT, New York (Ticker) -- Looking to do what no other has done in 21 years, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Charismatic will attempt to successfully complete the Triple Crown when he breaks from the fourth post Saturday in the 131st running of the Belmont Stakes. Charismatic, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, drew the No. 4 post at the draw Wednesday at Belmont Park. Charismatic is the seventh horse to have made it to the Belmont Stakes with a chance for the Triple Crown since Affirmed became the 11th and last Triple Crown winner in the spring of 1978. This is the third straight year that a horse is making a bid for the Triple Crown. Last Year, Real Quiet was turned away by a nose by Victory Gallop after Silver Charm was stopped by Touch Gold in 1997. Menifee, runnerup in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, will provide the main competition of the contingent trying to thwart Charismatic. Racing on a different track for the seventh straight start, Menifee is the strong 7-2 second choice but will break from the 10th post under two-time Belmont winner Pat Day. Menifee has a shot to become this year's Victory Gallop or can just become another Alydar, who finished second in all three races to the last Triple Crown winner Affirmed in 1978. As improbable as the presence of a 31-1 shot winning the Kentucky Derby and then standing poised for greatness five weeks later, is the path that Charismatic's jockey Chris Antley has taken. A top-notch jockey, with one Triple Crown victory to his credit prior to this year, Antley battled back from bouts with drugs and alcohol as well as a weight problem to get him in a position that all jockeys dream about. He just returned to riding three months ago and appreciates the talent of his mount. "Charismatic's performance in the Preakness was unbelievable as compared to his Derby win," Antley said. "I can't tell you how excited I am to be here. Wayne [Lukas] and I will discuss strategy, so right now I don't know what our game plan for the race will me."
Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddled a record 12 Triple Crown winners, including three straight Belmont champs from 1994-1996, Charismatic is looking to go off as the favorite for the first time in his 10th 3-year-old race. "He's a horse that I misread a great deal," said Lukas, who entered Charismatic in a pair of claiming races earlier this year. "That happens a lot but not usually with Triple Crown candidates. He's come real far. If we can get another win out of him, we'll be happy. If not, we'll still be happy." Charismatic's owners Bob and Beverly Lewis have been down this route before, having watched as Silver Charm secured the first two jewels in 1997 before coming up short in the Belmont. "We're thrilled to be here," Bob Lewis said. "When you consider having to race for the Triple Crown two times, it's astronomical and unbelievable. When you saw my excitement following the Preakness, it was because I realized the fact that I was gonna get another wild three-week ride." Eight winners have come out of the fourth post to capture the Belmont, far less that the record of 22 who have used to rail to spur them on to Belmont glory. The purse for the Belmont is $1 million, but a win by Charismatic will bring another $5 million in bonus money. Trainer Elliott Walden must be having a case of deja vu. The young conditioner is in the exact same position this season as last year, when he watched his charge Victory Gallop fall short if the first two legs before getting the measure of Real Quiet and spoiling his Triple Crown bid. "I hope the final chapter is the same," said Walden, reflecting on last year. "Menifee has done well. He came out of the Preakness OK and is showing less signs of stress than Victory Gallop did last year. Charismatic dominated him in the Preakness, but hopefully we can turn the tables on his Saturday." The leading newcomer to the Triple Crown scene is Silverbulletday, a filly. She was scheduled to go in the Preakness but a bad post-position draw prompted owner Mike Pegram and trainer Bob Baffert to enter her in the Black-Eyed Susan where she rolled to victory. Silverbulletday, ridden by 1991 Belmont winner Jerry Bailey, drew the fifth post and was installed as the 4-1 third choice. Baffert has trained four Triple Crown winners, but following last year's Belmont defeat, fell to 0-8 when sending out mounts in New York. "We went to Baltimore with the hopes of running her in the Preakness but that didn't pan out," Pegram said. "So we're more than happy to give her a shot here in the Belmont." History dictates that it will not be a good shot. Only 19 fillies have started in the previous Belmont races, with just a pair, Ruthless in the initial running of 1867 and Tanya in 1905, having reached the winner's circle.
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
| |||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||||
