Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 9, 1990 TAG: 9006090011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
As if to underscore the lack of drama surrounding the 122nd Belmont, before the race there will be a tribute to Secretariat, who starred in perhaps the greatest racing drama ever.
Seventeen years ago Saturday, Secretariat raced to the Triple Crown and into legend with the fastest time (2:24) and the biggest winning margin (31 lengths) in the history of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.
The Belmont relies on a Triple Crown bid or an anticipated duel between the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness for much of its appeal.
Today, it will have neither. The Belmont didn't have Derby winner Spend a Buck in 1985 or Preakness winner Snow Chief in 1986. But in those years it had the spice of trainer Woody Stephens' successful bids for his fourth and fifth consecutive victories in the race.
This Belmont does have a touch of controversy.
The dispute over the use of the diuretic Lasix for racing was fueled by the decision of Summer Squall's owners not to race the colt in the Belmont because horses aren't allowed to race on any medication in New York.
Summer Squall, who has raced on Lasix since bleeding in February, finished second to Unbridled in the Derby, then reversed the order of finish in the Preakness.
Unbridled has raced on Lasix since he bled during a race in October, but trainer Carl Nafzger saw no reason his colt could not handle one race without the medication.
A recent study by University of Pennsylvania veterinarians found that Lasix doesn't always control exercise induced pulmonary bleeding and that it often improves performance.
Even without Lasix, Unbridled is considered the class of a generally nondescript Belmont field.
He was the 4-5 early favorite to beat eight other 3-year-olds.
"He's better now than he's ever been," Nafzger said. "That doesn't mean he won't get beat. That's why they run horse races."
Among Unbridled's rivals will be Go and Go, Yonder and Video Ranger.
Go and Go is expected to duel for the lead with Thirty Six Red, who was ninth in the Derby, and perhaps Land Rush, seventh in the Derby and sixth in the Preakness.
Completing the field are Country Day, Hawaiian Pass and Baron de Vaux, who was eighth in the Preakness.
If all nine go to the post under scale weight of 126 pounds at 5:30 p.m. EDT, the Belmont will be worth $686,000, with $411,600 to the winner. ABC will televise from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Unbridled needs only to finish to win the $1 million that goes to the horse with the most points earned in the three races.
Keywords:
HORSE RACING BELMONT LACKING IN DRAMA UNBRIDLED FAVORITE IN
NINE-HORSE FIELD
by CNB