#2002 Belmont Stakes Horse-By-Horse Capsules#
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By Doug Mittler
SportsTicker Horse Racing Editor

(listed in order of post position)

1. ARTAX TOO
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Jockey: Jose Santos
Trainer: Jennifer Leigh-Pedersen
Odds: 50-1

The horse has won two of its last two races in much lesser
competition.  If War Emblem wins, owner Ernie Paragallo can say
his horse was part of a historic day. The horse's sire, Conquistador
Cielo, won the 1982 Belmont Stakes.

2. LIKE A HERO
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Jockey: Pat Day
Trainer: Beau Greely
Odds: 30-1

Pat Day will ride his third straight long shot in the Triple Crown
after being aboard Blue Burner in the Derby and Booklet in the 
Preakness.  The Hall of Famer who has won three Belmonts fills in for 
Laffit Pincay Jr., who apparently thinks so little of the colt's chances 
that he declined to make the coast-to-coast trip to ride him.  Like 
a Hero won the Alydar Stakes on May 23 at Hollywood Park.
The horse has never faced a contender. Was unraced as a 2-year old.

3. WISEMAN'S FERRY
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Jockey: Jorge Chavez
Trainer: Niall O'Callaghan 
Odds: 20-1

The horse dictated the quick pace in winning the Lone Star Derby.
Medaglia d'Oro trainer Bobby Frankel says Wiseman's Ferry ride could
be pivotal since he could set a fast pace that could complicate 
things for War Emblem.  Began his career in Europe, making six starts
as a 2-year-old, all on turf.

4. ESSENCE OF DUBAI
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Jockey: Jerry Bailey 
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Odds: 30-1

Essence of Dubai was a flop in the Kentucky Derby, finishing
ninth, and was kept out of the Preakness.  The lightly-raced horse
was just as bad in his one race over Belmont's main track, 
a last-place finish in the Breeders' Cup juvenille after a
three-wide trip. 

5. SUNDAY BREAK
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Jockey: Gary Stevens
Trainer: Neil Drysdale
Odds: 6-1

The biggest threat to War Emblem in the $1 million race could come 
from Sunday Break, who stamped himself as a contender with a 
one-length victory over Puzzlement in the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes 
on Memorial Day weekend. Sunday Break missed the Kentucky Derby due 
to insufficient earnings and trainer Neil Drysdale kept him out of 
the Preakness. Drysdale is following a course he took in 1992 when 
another of his horses, A.P. Indy, was scratched from the Derby with 
a hoof injury and was not entered in the Preakness. A.P. Indy went
on to win the Peter Pan and the Belmont. Gary Stevens lost a Triple Crown
aboard Silver Charm in 1997. The following year he was aboard Victory
Gallop when he spoiled Real Quiet's Triple Crown bid.

6. PERFECT DRIFT
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Jockey: Eddie Delahoussaye
Trainer: Murray Johnson
Odds: 8-1

The gelding ran a respectable third in the Kentucky Derby and Murray
Johnson decided to skip the Preakness and go for it in the Belmont. 
Eddie Delahoussaye is excellent at riding long races, a skill made 
to order for the Belmont. He won the Belmont aboard Risen Star in 
1988 and A.P. Indy in 1992.  The only gelding to win the Belmont 
was Creme Fraiche in 1985.

7. PUZZLEMENT (SCRATCHED)
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Jockey: Jean-Luc Samyn
Trainer: Allen Jerkens
Odds: SCRATCHED (Bruised right front foot)

Allen Jerkens, 73, was impressed with his horse's 
second-place finish in the Peter Pan Stakes behind Sunday Break, 
prompting the entry in the Belmont.  Puzzlement, who made his stakes
debut in the Peter Pan, is a son of Pine Bluff, a third-place 
finisher in the 1992 Belmont.

8. MEDAGLIA D'ORO 
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Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Trainer: Bobby Frankel
Odds: 10-1 

The lightly-raced colt finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby 
after getting off to a terrible start. The Preakness was even
worse as he faded to eighth.  Joins War Emblem and Proud Citizen
as the only horses to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown.
The horse will have a different jockey for all three races.
Kent Desormeaux will ride in the Belmont after Laffit Pincay 
(Kentucky Derby) and Jerry Bailey (Preakness). Bobby Frankel's
only prior Belmont start was Aptitude, who was second two years ago.

9. PROUD CITIZEN 
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Jockey: Mike Smith 
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Odds: 6-1

Proud Citizen again will try to upset War Emblem after running second the
entire Kentucky Derby and finishing a strong third in the Preakness. Jockey
Mike Smith never has won in eight Belmont starts, but this could be his best
chance. The Gone West colt could give D. Wayne Lukas his record 14th Triple 
Crown victory and sixth in the Preakness.  Lukas' 13 Triple Crown wins tie 
him with "Sunny Jim" Fitzimmons for the all-time lead.
 
10. WAR EMBLEM 
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Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Odds: even 

Bob Baffert hopes that the third time will be a charm as War Emblem 
tries to become the first Triple Crown winner in 24 years. He won 
with the first two legs of the Triple Crown with Silver Charm in 1997 and 
Real Quiet in 1998.  Both colts finished second in the Belmont by a 
less than 1 1/2 lenghths combined.  The jet-black horse seems to
be getting better. He led gate-to-wire in the Kentucky Derby and showed
patience in the Preakness, allowing other horses to set the pace before
making his move. The big question will be how War Emblem handles what 
is a large field for a Belmont. The horse went to Baffert's barn after 
he was purchased by Prince Ahmed bin Salman.  Not that the prince needs 
the money, but a $5 million bonus awaits a Triple Crown winner.
 
11. MAGIC WEISNER
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Jockey: Richard Migliore 
Trainer: Nancy Alberts
Odds: 15-1 

The Maryland-bred son of Ameri Valay was a surprise second in
the Preakness, putting a scare into War Emblem as a 45-1 long shot
and prompting Nancy Alberts to try the Belmont. It would be a reach to 
expect another big performance. The horse has made 11 career starts,
winning six.

12. SARAVA
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Jockey: Edgar Prado
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Odds: 30-1

The son of Wild Again comes off a four-length win in the Sir
Barton Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness Day.  The horse is 
likely in way over his head. Ken McPeek's only other Belmont horse
was Pineaff, who was ninth in 1999. 
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