Chemblog!

The 139th Belmont Stakes runs today; talk about a long tradition and a LONG race (1.5 miles).
Sadly, due to a combination of poor sportsmanship and stupid-greed (by contrast, there is smart-greed, which is practically a virtue), Street Sense, the horse who won the Kentucky Derby and then lost the Preakness by a few millimeters, will not run in today's race.
Anyway, Curlin, the winner of the Preakness is going for his 5th win in the 6th race of his life. He's been through a lot: getting bumped and blocked throughout the Derby yet still finishing third; he tied the stakes record time in the Preakness with an amazing comeback run at Street Sense.

I will be routing for Curlin but I think that a fresher horse is going to win this long and tiring race.
The horse is Tiago, who is the brother of Giacomo, the 2005 Kentucky Derby winner. He likes to take it easy early and then come flying in the stretch, so I expect him to do so today. The other longshot possibility is CP West, who is trained by good old native New Yorker, Nick Zito.

The race takes about two and a half minutes and there have been many crazy upsets in the past. Should be fun to watch; the race goes off at 6:25 PM, long after our review session today.
Enjoy the weekend! I have to recover from walking in direct sunlight for 10 miles at Six Flags yesterday.