Bellamy may be Boss' latest bust
Cue: Bob Sheppard's reverberating baritone.
"Now playing center field for the Yankees, number sixteen-teen-teen. Bellamy...me...me...me. Road...Road...Road. Number sixteen-teen-teen.
The way the Yankees are playing these days, George Steinbrenner can only wish.
That's because the Boss' 3-year-old colt has clearly outperformed the entire bank-busting Yankees squad this spring and is the likely post-time favorite in tomorrow's 131st running of the Kentucky Derby.
And with good reason. In his last two races, Bellamy Road buried all rivals by a combined distance of 33 lengths. In his Wood Memorial romp four weeks back, he wired the field, set a stakes record, matched a track record and scored a monster speed rating. That's a pretty good afternoon for a horse Steinbrenner purchased for a mere $87,000.
The bombing Bronx Bombers have players who make more than that in a game.
Bellamy Road is the one to beat. He's the flagship runner of trainer Nick Zito's five-horse contingent tomorrow, and he'll have the short odds to prove it.
But here's why it's a lousy bet and why George won't awaken anytime soon from his vernal nightmare: The colt's front-running style will work against him in the packed Derby field. Everybody will be gunning for him, early and often. To make matters worse, a "rabbit" named Spanish Chestnut figures to sprint to the lead, further taxing Bellamy Road. Early speed duels spell trouble for Derby front-runners.
Bellamy Road has been lightly used, with only two races in his 3-year-old campaign. And favorites have a lousy track record in the Run for the Roses.
All of this points to a race with furious early fractions and also-rans falling by the wayside as Bellamy Road, under Javier Castellano, desperately tries to hold on in the stretch. That scenario allows for a contender with a late kick to score a big upset.
The most logical choice for a big stretch run is Afleet Alex, who exploded late to claim the Arkansas Derby three weeks ago by eight lengths. His recent workouts have been stellar. He appears poised and ready for trainer Tim Ritchey and jockey Jeremy Rose, both of whom are Derby first-timers. The bay colt also lays claim to the best storyline. His mother rejected him at birth and refused to produce milk. He was expected to die until the breeders rigged a makeshift bottle and nursed him for 12 days, until a nurse mare could be found. He flourished and went on to win six of nine races, earning $1.3 million, the most of any 3-year-old in the country.
Zito's four other horses — High Fly, Sun King, Noble Causeway and Andromeda's Hero — all have a chance in this cavalry charge. Of these, High Fly, winner of the Florida Derby, has Jerry Bailey aboard and looms dangerous. Bandini, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes, also should be in the picture.
I'm using long shot Buzzards Bay, the Santa Anita winner, in exotics.
But I'm betting Afleet Alex will provide this year's Funny Cide-Smarty Jones story for the Triple Crown series.
Just ask King George — underdogs are having a big spring.
Joe Dowd is analyzing this year's Triple Crown races for the Times Herald-Record. Contact him at jdowd@th-record.com.
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