The magical moment in the history of the Belmont Stakes has been the 31-length 2:24 Secretariat tour-de-force in 1973 but you can get paid in this race.

Prices can be had some times in the Belmont but you have to be careful. In most years, the favorite is very potent but would not be so ready to run to bet the chalk blindly this year or any other despite the fact the favorite over the years has popped well over the national chalk winning average of about 33%.

In the history of the Belmont the chalk has won about 43% of the time.

But last season speedball Da’ Tara came back with a $79 dollar mutuel that kept her backers in smokes and beer for about a year.

Some feel that because historically the Belmont Stakes has been a haven for chalk, teeing it up on the favorite is the way to go but every year brings a new equation. In the last decade or so, prices have been rampant in the Stakes. Deep-closer Sarava returned a record $142.50 taking the 2002 renewal and when the Smarty Party ended, it was the Nick Zito student at $74 that spoiled the day after being third to last early.

When looking for a live long shot in the Belmont you want a horse that can maintain some semblance of contact, has shown the ability or the inkling to finish and a runner that has a good bottom to him.

Face it, the unknown territory of a mile and a half in this classic can make cowards out of very good horses. You have to be able to get the trip.

Another thing that can’t really be left out of the strategy in the Belmont Stakes is the jockey factor.

And the truth of the matter, beyond the appearance or not of Rachel Alexandra, is that this classic will be more about Calvin Borel than any other human.

The mile and a half distance is rarely used at Belmont and unless a starter handicap or a race that is removed from turf goes, it’s possible that the distance is only used on this one day, so riders are at an immediate disadvantage. Pace can be tricky and it can fool even experienced riders that are not used to riding in New York.

For riders, it’s just as hard to win this classic. Check out this who’s who list of those that have had a tough time in the third Triple Crown Jewel. The deceased Chris Antley lost this race 5 times and with good horses like Charismatic and Strike Gold.

Jerry Bailey had 19 Belmont Stakes mounts, 2 won. Jorge Chavez lost this race 9 times and Hall of Fame rider, Angel Cordero Jr., who had the cream of the crop in his racing days in New York, only won this race once in 20 tries.

Jose Santos rode in this race 13 times, and only Lemon Drop Kid brought him home on top. Ruffian’s rider, Jacinto Vasquez, had 10 Belmont mounts, all of them lost. The legendary Jorge Velasquez and current star Johnny Velazquez lost this race over 20 times between them.

When talking training success, it begins and ends with Woody Stephens. What he did in this race will never be matched again. He won the Third Jewel 5 straight years from 1982 to 1986 and even trained the exacta in 1985 when Creame Fraiche finished just ahead of Stephen’s Odyssey.

Finally, look at this race with a logical overall view. Don’t get sappy about the star potential of the runners or the subplots that will emerge. Try to evaluate pace, visualize how the race is going to set up, and make an intelligent decision.

If Rachel Alexandra shows up she will try to follow in the footsteps of Rags to Riches, who beat Curlin in 2007 to become the first filly to win the fixture in 102 years and only the third in the history of the classic.