Does Guyana Star Dweej really belong in the field for the 2012 Belmont Stakes, which will be held Saturday at Belmont Park. I'll Have Another will be racing for history, trying to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win horse racing's Triple Crown.
Guyana Star Dweej? Owned by Shivmangal Racing Stable in Woodmere, N.Y., the horse will be stepping up in class -- way up in class -- and trying to prove he should be part of a Triple Crown race. In the early Watchmaker Odds, Guyana Star Dweej is a 50-1 long shot, the longest in the Belmont Stakes field.
After watching Guyana Star Dweej work out earlier this week trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal decided to enter the horse in the highest
A reporter from the Daily Racing Form watched the same workout and came away thinking that might not be a good idea. The DRF wrote:
Guyana Star Dweej became the final prospective Belmont Stakes starter to work prior to the race when breezing an uninspiring half-mile in 49.30 seconds with new rider Kent Desormeaux aboard immediately after the renovation break Monday at Belmont Park.
Guyana Star Dweej worked in company with Shkspeare Shaliyah, his stablemate from the barn of trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal. The team broke off at the half-mile pole, with Guyana Star Dweej nearest the rail, and sizzled through an opening quarter in 22.42. But both horses tired badly once settling into the stretch, completing their final two furlongs in a dismal 26.88, with Shkspeare Shaliyah appearing the stronger of the pair at the end. They galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.36.
Although Guyana Star Dweej's work was obviously better than his aborted try here five days earlier, it hardly suggests that this is a horse is sitting on the type of effort needed to compete with the likes of I'll Have Another or most of the others eyeing Saturday's Belmont.
In an analysis of Belmont contender, BelmontStakes.org is also not certain Guyana Star Dweej belongs in this field.
Lots of in the money finishes in MSW and claiming races, coming off a 2nd in an allowance race at Belmont Park in late April. Who knows what the deal with this horse is? Many observers suggest that Guyana Star Dweej is a ‘jewel in the rough' that could become a solid contender with better training. Passed on the Preakness to target this race at a Belmont track he's comfortable on. Realistically he's in over his head against superior talent and unlikely to finish in the money. Reportedly suffered a minor leg injury before the Preakness.