One of the leading contenders to win in 2010 Belmont Odds is Fly Down. The horse is trained by Nick Zito and he will be ridden by John Velazquez. Fly Down was the winner of the Dywer Stakes at Belmont earlier this month and he is going to get some attention in Belmont betting.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Nito will have two horses in the June 5th Belmont Stakes. He has Fly Down and Kentucky Derby runner-up, Ice Box. Zito had to find a new jockey for Fly Down since Jose Lezcano is the regular rider of Ice Box. Zito chose Velazquez for Fly Down. “Belmont Park, John Velazquez, Nick Zito, we’ve had good luck together,” Zito said, “Plus, I’ve known Johnny since he was 18. I had a lot of good jockeys wanting to ride this horse, but I went with the New York jockey.” Zito has won the Belmont twice in the past with Birdstone in 2004 and with Da’ Tara in 2008. Velazquez won the 2007 Belmont Stakes when he rode the filly Rags to Riches. He was second aboard Dunkirk last year.
Ice Box worked four furlongs at Saratoga on May 19. He had exercise rider Maxine Correa aboard and went the four furlongs in 49.65. Ice Box is expected to have one more workout before the Belmont. Fly Down is scheduled to work this weekend.
The Belmont will not have Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver or Preakness winner Lookin at Lucky. It is expected to have Preakness runner-up First Dude in addition to Fly Down and Ice Box. Also in the mix are Dwyer runner-up Drosselmeyer, Bob Baffert’s Game on Dude who won the Lone Star Derby, Kentucky Derby fourth place finisher Make Music for Me, Santa Anita Derby runner-up Setsuko, Kentucky Derby horses Dublin and Stately Victor, Spangled Star, Stay Put and Uptowncharlybrown.
The Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5th will likely have Ice Box as the favorite with Fly Down and First Dude in the mix for the second choice in the wagering. Ice Box could end up as a solid favorite since many people believe he would have won the Kentucky Derby if he had gotten a good trip. He looks like he is bred to run a distance and he should love the mile and a half in the Belmont.