My Adonis was a late -- no, make that VERY LATE -- addition to the field for Saturday's 144th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. My Adonis' owners, George and Lori Hall, did not decide to enter the colt in the Belmont until Tuesday night.
"We came to this decision only a few hours ago," said Lori Hall. "Over the last seven to 10 days he's really shown to be eating well and to looking the part. We've just kind of kept in the back of our minds that this could be a possibility, and [trainer] Kelly [Breen] called us today and said, ‘I'm getting that good vibe.' "
The Halls saddled 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice. Ramon Dominguez is expected to ride My Adonis. The Halls will be looking to become the first owners to register back-to-back triumphs in the Belmont Stakes since Riva Ridge and Secretariat won in 1972 and 1973, respectively, for Meadow Stable.
So, what does My Adonis, listed at 20-1 in the morning line odds, bring to the field? Here is Mike Watchmaker of the Daily Racing Form.
"Took a big step backward in last two, but he's not nearly as silly an entrant as some others."
My Adonis finished third in the 1 1/16th-mile Canonero II Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 19th, the same day as the Preakness Stakes. Prior to that he placed seventh in the Wood Memorial, held in April, and second in the Gotham Stakes in March. Both races were at Aqueduct. In 10 career starts, My Adonis has two firsts, four seconds and two third-place finishes.
My Adonis was an also-eligible for the Kentucky Derby and ended up as a late scratch.