Barbaro's Absence Is Felt

Belmont Suffers Without Injured Derby Winner

With two hours of air time to fill for an event that lasts 2 1/2 minutes, ABC Sports will devote a large chunk of its Belmont Stakes coverage Saturday to the one 3-year-old the general public can identify, even though the horse won't be in the race.

Barbaro's smashing victory in the Kentucky Derby and heart-wrenching breakdown two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes looms over the third leg of the Triple Crown. The effort to save the horse's life at the New Bolton Center hospital in Pennsylvania has proved to be a captivating story.

"We're obviously going to spend a lot more time on a horse that is not here," said Dave Miller, ABC Sports coordinating producer for the Belmont. "That's the big story right now. We believe the public is hungry for and wants information on that."

With Barbaro out and the handlers of Preakness winner Bernardini choosing to bypass the rigorous 1 1/2 -mile Belmont, New York Racing Association officials know Belmont Park will not attract the 100,000-plus crowds that filled Churchill Downs and Pimlico last month. Still, NYRA senior vice president Bill Nader believes the Belmont Stakes has become an annual rite of spring New Yorkers will attend no matter who's running.

"It's five bucks to get in on that day," Nader said. "When I say it's the best value in big-time sports, I can't even think what's second."

Nader admits the betting handle will suffer without Barbaro involved and attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

"If there was a Triple Crown on the line, the overall handle on the day would be $115 million or higher," Nader said. "Without a Triple Crown on the line, I think we're going to be at $90 million."

While the projected figure is less than hoped for, Nader said it is a sign of success.

"In 1998, when Real Quiet was going for the Triple Crown, the total handle was $55 million," Nader said. "In 1997, [when Silver Charm won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness], it was $51 million. We've been able to really take this day and run with it."

The vacuum created by Barbaro and Bernardini has sucked a lot of opportunists into the Belmont field who otherwise might not have been there. Twelve horses signed up for the $1 million race yesterday, and seven remain eligible for first- or second-level allowance conditions.

The race, however, doesn't lack talent. Todd Pletcher, the leading trainer in the country, will send out Kentucky Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, and recent stakes winner Sunriver in an attempt to win his first Triple Crown race.

Bob Baffert returns Wood Memorial winner Bob and John to New York after a rough run in Kentucky where he finished 17th. Steppenwolfer and Jazil, third and fourth in the Derby, lack tactical ability but are long-winded runners who could capitalize on a tiring pace battle.

The trainers running horses in the Belmont have expressed mixed feelings in the past week about the absence of Barbaro and Bernardini. Asked if their absences create a tougher Belmont Stakes because of the larger field, Jazil's trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, "No, I'm happy. I mean I'm not happy Bernardini is not running, or Barbaro, but the less competition is better for us."

Trainer Daniel Peitz, who lives near Belmont Park, said his sense of accomplishment would not be diminished if his Steppenwolfer won the race.

"It would be great," Peitz said. "I'm a racing fan, too. I felt like somebody kicked me in the gut for a couple of days after the Preakness. And, you know, I've been saying my prayers for the horse. I think that it will take a while for everybody to recover from this, but I know that's all part of racing."