Belmont Park

ELMONT, N.Y. -- By less than the length of one horse, Bob Baffert has lost two Triple Crowns.But yesterday at Belmont Park, 15 hours after Real Quiet's loss by a nose in one of the Belmont Stakes' great stretch duels, Baffert joked, talked about a reunion with his family and looked forward to Saturday's race of another big horse in his barn, Silver Charm."

ELMONT, N.Y. -- If you were looking for a horse to challenge Real Quiet on the lip of the Triple Crown, look no further: Grand Slam, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, won the Peter Pan Stakes yesterday to stay undefeated at Belmont Park and create a new role as the potential spoiler.This is a horse whose past is filled with agony and ecstasy. Last year, he won the Belmont Futurity in September and outran Lil's Lad to win the Champagne Stakes at Belmont in October. But in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November, he suffered a deep cut in his left hind leg and missed four months of racing.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- The early favorite for Saturday's Preakness should be holed up in a barn at Pimlico, basking in the equine equivalent of superstar status as the buildup continues for the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown.But 2-1 Coronado's Quest went through his final workout at Belmont Park yesterday morning and will not arrive in Baltimore until just hours before the race.If that seems highly unusual, it is because Coronado's Quest is a highly unusual horse a horse with an attitude.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- The 129th Belmont Stakes turned into a battle of jockeys.Although only seven horses contested the 1 1/2 -mile course, their jockeys had journeys in mind. For starters, none wanted to be near the rail, described unanimously as "dead."So the jockeys of the first three finishers -- Chris McCarron on Touch Gold, Gary Stevens on Silver Charm and Kent Desormeaux on Free House -- kept their mounts far off the rail toward the middle of the track.Also, McCarron didn't want Touch Gold in the lead.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Silver Charm's bid to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner failed by less than a length yesterday in the 129th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.Before a roaring crowd of 70,682 -- the third largest in Belmont Park's 92-year history -- Touch Gold sneaked by Silver Charm and Free House yards before the wire to deny the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner a sweep of the Triple Crown races.The tight three-horse finish after a thrilling stretch duel concluded one of the greatest Triple Crown series in history.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- In his quest for admission to racing's elite Triple Crown club, Silver Charm will break from post No. 2 in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park tomorrow.His trainer, Bob Baffert, was not happy."I've never liked the 1 or 2," Baffert said after yesterday's draw at this sprawling track on Long Island. "I'd rather have the 4 or 5. You always like to be outside the speed. Breaking from the inside [the speed horses] might be coming in and leaning on us a little bit."Dave Hofmans, trainer of Touch Gold, who finished fourth in the Preakness despite a horrendous trip, wasn't happy either.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario -- Cigar drew a favorable post position yesterday -- No. 7 in a field of 14 -- for Saturday's $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Woodbine, a rain-drenched racetrack just west of Toronto.In what could be his final race, Cigar will attempt to become the first horse in 13 runnings of the Breeders' Cup to win back-to-back Classics. His win last year in the mud at Belmont Park completed a perfect 10-for-10 season and earned the Maryland-bred champion Horse of the Year.This year, Cigar tied Citation's 20th-century, North-American record of 16 consecutive wins.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Cigar emerged from Saturday's winning effort in the Woodward Stakes in good order, prompting his trainer, Bill Mott, to pronounce that the Maryland-bred is on schedule for what look to be the final two races of his career.Much has been made of Cigar's mood after he lost last month's Pacific Classic at Del Mar -- his first loss after 16 straight wins. He refused for several days to eat a peppermint, his favorite snack. But after the Woodward, Mott said, he ate at least half a dozen.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- The sad feeling of Aug. 10, when the unthinkable happened and Cigar lost, vanished yesterday with a few powerful strides as the revered Maryland-bred won again.Cigar vanquished four foes in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park, surging past the leaders on the far turn in the same domineering manner that highlighted his 16-race winning streak. When Cigar took the lead, cruising as if out for a morning run, it was clear that the Horse of the World was back."It was great seeing him running the way we're used to seeing him run," said Bill Mott, his trainer.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- With the image still sharp of Dare and Go thundering past Cigar last month at Del Mar, the question today is: Will the Maryland-bred Cigar return to the winner's circle the domineering champion, or sulk back to his barn the susceptible veteran?The answer is due at 4: 44 p.m., when Cigar and probably four formidable foes burst from the starting gate in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park.Cigar's loss Aug. 10 in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar -- ending his 16-race win streak -- raised questions about the 6-year-old Horse of the Year.