By ED FOUNTAINE
June 6, 2008
ESPN Radio for the first time will present live coverage of tomorrow's Belmont Stakes, beginning at 5 p.m. Dave "And down the stretch they come!" Johnson will host the two-hour broadcast.
Track was muddy yesterday; turf was good; sixth and ninth races came off the grass.
Alan Garcia, Eibar Coa and Kent Desormeaux had two-baggers; Christophe Clement saddled back-to-back winners; Rick Dutrow Jr., warming up for Belmont, won 13th race of meet, tying him atop standings with Barclay Tagg.
FOURTH RACE: Champagne Squall, stablemate of Belmont's 7-2 second choice, Casino Drive, was favored at 4-5 going mile-and-quarter on turf vs. maiden special weights in his second U.S. start. Desormeaux sent him right to front, set dawdling pace (:50.61, 1:15.59), and cruised along unmolested to mid-stretch. But 10-1 Find the Wire, beaten 101/2 lengths last out after setting pace over Woodbine Polytrack, after tucking in behind leaders under ground-saving ride by Eibar Coa, kicked in to wear down Champagne Squall through final sixteenth.
FIFTH RACE: Bob Baffert, in town to saddle champion filly Indian Blessing in tomorrow's Acorn Stakes, sent out his second winner in two days, both wearing red-and-yellow Real Quiet silks of owner Mike Pegram. Under Serviced, 3-year-old NY-bred filly making first start since winning her debut last June at Hollywood Park, off at even-money under Desormeaux, dueled for lead with 9-1 Swept the Series, put her away, then dug in to hold off late rally of 7-2 Oniyome.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 1-5-11-7-8-8
6 winners each paid $6,196
251 cons. (5 of 6) winners paid $49.20
No carryover
