Belmont Stakes analysis

We could rag on the owner and trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense because they decided to skip today's Belmont Stakes. It would have been cool to see if jockey Calvin Borel could have outfinished Street Sense's nemesis — Preakness winner Curlin — in the 1 ½-mile race.

But instead we might see a noteworthy feat at the gargantuan track that was built in Elmont, N.Y., in 1905. A stunning filly named Rags to Riches, with a pedigree to match her strong record, will tackle the boys in the 139th running.

No filly has won the Belmont Stakes since 1905, when Tanya led virtually all the way. But the distance was 1-¼ miles. The Belmont has been run at the 1-½-mile distance since 1926, with the best female finish being a second turned in by Genuine Risk in 1980. Rags to Riches will be the eighth filly to run 12 furlongs in the race at Belmont Park.

Today's event is intriguing because of the filly, but let's find the winner.

CURLIN re-rallied in the stretch of the Preakness to edge Street Sense and that makes him the one to beat. The winning time (1 minute, 53-2/5 seconds) tied the stakes record. The long-legged chestnut will be around even money, and betting favorites have won the Belmont 44 percent of the time. He will come from off the pace and should be in front with a quarter-mile to go.

C P WEST ran his career-best race in the Preakness, finishing fourth after making a bold move into the far turn. He battled all the way to the wire, only to get beat by 5 ½ lengths. Jockey Edgar Prado is 2 for 7 in the Belmont while the rest of the jockeys in the race are winless from 25 mounts. Trainer Nick Zito has had seven exacta finishers from his 17 starters in the third leg of the Triple Crown. The colt will be a fair price and should move forward today.

RAGS TO RICHES has won three straight Grade Is against fillies. This will be her first start against the boys. She is bred for the distance, as her half-brother Jazil won last year's Belmont. Her sire, A.P. Indy, won the 1992 Belmont. "The biggest upside is, we feel this filly is bred for this race," trainer Todd Pletcher told reporters earlier this week. Pletcher enters today's race 0 for 28 in Triple Crown events.

HARD SPUN moved way too soon in the Preakness and was no match for Curlin and Street Sense. New rider Garrett Gomez is one of the nation's best and it will be interesting to see how he rides the Pennsylvania-bred. The colt has not passed a rival in the stretch — and don't think he'll win if he has got the lead turning for home. Best to use him for third or fourth in exotic bets.