Happy Belmont Stakes day! We’ve asked our contributors to share their thoughts on the graded races on the Belmont Stakes card along with the replays and links to the results charts.

G1 Acorn Stakes
1 Mile 3-year-old Fillies
Race 6 | 2:34 PM ET
By Teresa Genaro

On paper, the Acorn looks like a veritable walkover for Turbulent Descent. She’s the only Grade 1 winner in the field; she’s won two at that level and finished second in a third, while only one other starter, Her Smile, has even started in a Grade 1, and she finished 11th in the Kentucky Oaks.

But … Read More >

Ernie Munick catches up with Hall of Fame jockey Jacinto Vasquez, the rider of such greats as Ruffian and Genuine Risk, on Alumni Day at Churchill Downs earlier in the year. Vasquez shares his thoughts on Ruffian as a 3-year-old, what he thinks got Genuine Risk beaten in the Belmont, and Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.

Next up Ernie discusses impressive young riders and Alysheba with Chris McCarron.

Elsewhere of Interest

YouTube: Ruffian 1975 Acorn Stakes
YouTube: Ruffian 1975 Mother Goose Stakes
YouTube: … Read More >

Ernie Munick catches up with Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte on Alumni Day at Churchill Downs earlier in the year. Turcotte discusses who he thinks was the best horse besides Secretariat, breaking records and what he thinks prompted Secretariat’s historical performance on Belmont day 1973.

In upcoming renditions, Ernie discusses the whip, impressive young riders and Alysheba with Chris McCarron and the greatest fillies of all time with Jacinto Vasquez.

Elsewhere of Interest

Hello Race Fans: Top Five Favorite Belmont Stakes
YouTube: … Read More >

Two hours after winning the Belmont Stakes, Summer Bird was in his stall, taking in the small crowd gathered in front to admire him.

There was trainer Tim Ice, asking people to keep it down — “The horse is starting to get worked up” — and owner Dr. K. K. Jayaraman, beaming at every congratulations offered. Jockey Kent Desormeaux swept in, accompanied by his family, to shake hands and stroke the winner’s nose. Summer Bird turned and posed — snap, flash, went a camera — turned again and … Read More >

6:55 p.m. update: The finish …
Triple Crown season came to an end almost as surprising as its beginning, with 11-1 Summer Bird — the other ‘Bird — pulling away to a 2 3/4-length win in the Belmont. Dunkirk, the unexpected pacesetter, was game to the end, finishing second, a neck in front of Mine That Bird, who had taken the lead in the mid-stretch and seemed on his way to victory. “He run a great race, he just got beat,” said trainer Chip Woolley. “You have to accept that and go on.”

5:10 p.m. update: Love for Better Talk Now …
It … Read More >

Post positions and morning line for the Saturday, June 6, 2009 Belmont Stakes:

PP	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	ML
1	Chocolate Candy	Garrett Gomez	Jerry Hollendorfer	10-1
2	Dunkirk	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	4-1
3	Mr. Hot Stuff	Edgar Prado	Eoin Harty	15-1
4	Summer Bird	Kent Desormeaux	Tim Ice	12-1
5	Luv Gov	Miguel Mena	D. Wayne Lukas	20-1
6	Charitable Man	Alan Garcia	Kiaran McLaughlin	3-1
7	Mine That Bird	Calvin Borel	Bennie “Chip” Woolley	2-1
8	Flying Private	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	12-1
9	Miner’s Escape	Jose Lezcano	Nick Zito	15-1
10	Brave Victory	Rajiv Maragh	Nick Zito	15-1

Summer Bird will start with blinkers on for … Read More >