Welcome to Belmont on this first Saturday of June. I'm Don McKay. Today it's time for the finial jewel in the Triple Crown. This year, Lady Stargazer could be our first winner in twenty years. But there are seven horses here, all of which have a chance to forestall the young filly. Today dawned clear, no sign of the clouds which had begun the Preakness. Speaking of the Preakness, six horses that had raced in the Preakness will no longer race again. For that story, lets go to our Charity Caver. Don, the tragedy at the Preakness began with Kirk's Bane from Styles Stables. It turns out that the horse was suffering from a genetic condition aggravated by heavy work outs. This condition caused weakened forelegs which simply collapsed beneath the colt. Unfortunately this started a chain reaction crash. Otterskin was the first to hit, he only suffered a strained right foreleg. Apollo's Chariot suffered the worst of them, breaking all but his right rear leg. Eye of the Storm suffered the scare of his life when he slid right under the rail. They had to take down the section of the rail to free the horse and his jockey. Strike Zone suffered a fractured left fore hoof. None of them will return to racing. Trainer Forsyth Ford of Kirk's Bane has issued an apology for not recognizing the symptoms of this rare unnamed genetic disorder. He has also resigned as head trainer at Styles Stables. Several of his fellow trainers, speaking on the condition of anatomy, have said that they probably wouldn't have spotted the symptoms of the disorder, but the trainer shouldn't have entered a horse that was any less than a hundred percent. Back you Don. Preakness isn't the only tragedy to happen in this year's Triple Crown. Just 48 hours after placing in the Preakness, Jockey Rene Picard, who rode Warp Speed for Stargazer Stables, died in a barn fire along with his father. Robert Picard, a noted vineyard owner and his son were trapped in the equipment barn for the stable when an electrical fire started igniting the volatile gasoline fuel tanks in the equipment. Investigators classified the fire as suspicious, and later determined that it was arson. Two weeks ago Wednesday, all the horse world gathered in Labarre France for Rene's funeral. Isabelle Boucher gave the eulogy for her fellow jockey and life long friend. I'd like to quote her "I'll try to remember the dreamer who fell asleep looking at the stars, dreaming of starships and adventures. I'll remember the young man astride his stallion who raced me and my horse across the field and around the track." Too often we remember people by how they left us. We should instead remember them by how they lived. Rene Picard was a rookie jockey in this sport. He was Warp Speed's jockey in all ten races before today. He also rode Full Impulse, a two year old, in four races. Rene had four wins, all aboard Warp Speed. He was known as a jolly young lad who was quick with the witty reply and stood by his girl friend, later fiancee, Isabelle. Today she will be switching from Lady Stargazer to Warp Speed. That brings us to our next story. You would expect Lady Stargazer to be favored in today's race. Instead, Warp Speed is the favorite, at 4 to 1. That's mainly because trainer Mikey White has chosen to seat and unknown complete rookie on her. Lieutenant Marrissa Amber Picard, formally of the USS Enterprise-D, will take over the reigns of the filly. Marrissa is only twelve years old. She's currently in Starfleet and her last post was as Chief CONN Officer on the Enterprise-D. What prompted this unprecedented move? Apparently, Isabelle requested a move to Warp Speed, filling her fiancee's ride. Mikey did ask several jockeys, who tried out on Lady Stargazer. None worked out. Despite her usual calm race behavior, those jockeys are calling Lady temperamental and unruly. So he tried Rene's cousin Marrissa, who is awaiting reassignment following the destruction of the Enterprise-D. While she's never started a race, White has told us that Marrissa was the rider who rode the filly during her first month at Stargazer Stables, and has a unique bond with the filly. Lets have a word with our Gene Humpries, who talked with both Marrissa Picard and Isabelle Boucher. Don, those are two very different young ladies. Isabelle has the air of a veteran. She's ready for this race, and thinks that Warp Speed has a very good chance of winning it. Marrissa, on the other hand, seems nervous. She says she'll try her best, but gives no guarantees. She says, and I quote, "I think that I can win this, but Lady Stargazer isn't a starship and that is my area of expertise. Still I tend to win my battles." Right now, Isabelle is on the track, about to Full Impulse in today's two-year-old race. Marrissa, meanwhile is going over tapes of Lady Stargazer's previous races. I watched Marrissa exercise Lady Stargazer last night, and I have to agree with the assessment of the bond. She has raced aboard Full Impulse last week at Star Fleet Academy Downs in the Captain Pike, which Full Impulse won convincingly. However one win in one race does not a winning jockey make. Mikey may have ended his chances at a triple crown. Oh and Don, Marrissa would like to inform you, that she was not piloting the Enterprise when it crashed, the ship's Counselor was. Thank you Gene. So far we've only talked about the two Stargazer Stables entries. They aren't the only horses here today. Code of Honor will start along the rail. The Klingon entry has been strong in both the Derby and the Preakness, where he finished third. Quarterdeck Breed is in the second position, the Kirk Stables entry has been somewhat of a disappointment this year, not performing well in Stakes grade races. In the third slot is Orphan. The fourth post holds Romulan Dawn, an early in the season favorite for the Derby that has yet to live up to expectations. The fifth gate will hold Warp Speed. We'll always have Paris is between the two Stargazer Stable entries. Paris does well on fast tracks, like today's, but has never won beyond four furlongs. Lady Stargazer fills our seventh and last post. Our Charity Caver has caught up with the trainer for We'll always have Paris, Diedre Mitchell. Charity? "Don, I'm here with the trainer for We'll always have Paris," Charity said. "Mrs Mitchell, what do you think Paris's chances are today." "Not very good, Charity," Diedre Mitchell said. "If the Stargazer Stables entries were to leave, we might have a chance, but those two are just too good." "I noticed you referred to the whole entry as being two good," Charity said. "What do you think of Michael White's decision to give Lady Stargazer to Marrissa Picard for today's race?" "Before I saw Marrissa ride Lady this morning, I figured that Warp Speed had the race wrapped up," Diedre said. "Now I'm not so sure. That young girl doesn't act like an unexperienced jockey." "Back to you Don." Thank you Charity. Today, the Triple Crown is on everyone's minds. While the betting is still in favor of Warp Speed, and the opinion of the racing world, at least until yesterday, was in favor of him, Lady Stargazer has become a media darling. The racing world hasn't had so much attention paid to it since the mighty Secretariat won the Triple Crown back in 1972. Big Red, as the colt was referred to, graced the covers of no less than three major magazines. Today, the gray filly with the white star has appeared all over the Federation Media. This month's Vulcan Science Academy Report's Cover story is on Thoroughbred Horse Breeding and features pictures of Lady Stargazer and her ancestors. Starbase 74 has set up a special direct link to watch the race. Record attendance has already filled the park. Federation President Inno has already mentioned the horse in one of his speeches, he's here today. Isabelle and Stargazer Stables have been overwhelmed with mail. Among the public, she's already acquired the nickname of Lady Star. With the sound of the trumpet, the horses are called to post, as the star of the revival of My Fair Lady, Juliette Higgins sings "New York, New York" They load up rather quietly. No high jinks at the gate this year. Last year Vulcan's Glory expended quite a bit of energy in attempts. Normally such a horse wouldn't win, but Vulcan's Glory beat Insignia that day. But the seven horses in today's Belmont Stakes are easily loaded into the gate. And they're off. Warp Speed leads out of the gate, with Quarterdeck breed on his inside. Lady Stargazer comes in from the outside. Code of Honor is next, with Romulan Dawn not far behind. Orphan trails the field. As they head into the turn, Warp Speed remains in the lead, but Quarterdeck has dropped to third, Code of Honor racing along side him. We'll always have Paris has moved into fifth. Down the back stretch, Warp Speed and Lady Stargazer have pulled a length on the field. A battle is shaping up between Code of Honor and Quarterdeck, they're neck and neck all the way down the stretch. Orphan is now fighting with Paris for fifth, with Romulan Dawn fading fast. Into the final turn, Lady takes first from Warp, who takes it back again. Code of Honor takes third firmly from Quarterdeck as Quarterdeck Breed stumbles, but recovers. Down the stretch they come, Lady leads Warp, and now Warp Lady, they are neck and neck as they come to the line. It's Lady Stargazer by a head over Warp Speed. And here comes the rest of the field lead by Code of Honor. We'll always have Paris takes fourth, followed by Orphan and Quarterdeck breed. Romulan Dawn has collapsed on the back stretch." I can't believe this, the official time posted for the race is 2:23.5, breaking a record that has held for almost four hundred years. This year's Triple Crown winner, Lady Stargazer has beat the record of Secretariat set back in 1973. As Lady Stargazer with Marrissa Picard aboard takes a cool down lap with Warp Speed with her usual jockey, Isabelle Boucher, along side. This scene has followed ever one of Lady Stargazer's wins in the Triple Crown. The two stable mates walking around the track, the long way to Victory Circle, chatting quietly. This time, however, we aren't waiting for the photo finish, and Rene Picard has been replaced with his cousin. As Lady Stargazer turns into Victory Circle, we'll head down for the presentation of the Triple Crown trophy, and that of the Belmont Stakes. Governor Carlos Colucchi of New York will present them, our Charity Caver is there. "As Governor of the State of New York, it gives me great pleasure to award Lady Stargazer of Stargazer Stables and her jockeys, Isabelle Boucher and Marrissa Picard, this trophy for winning the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown. The whole state of New York is proud to host this race every year. We will remember this year's contest between stable mates with great fondness. "Thank you Governor Colucchi," Captain Jean-Luc Picard said. "As head owner of Lady Stargazer and Stargazer Stables, and on the behalf of trainer Mikey White and her jockeys Isabelle Boucher and Marrissa Picard, I accept this trophy." "Captain Picard, this is your first appearance at a Triple Crown race, despite the fact you've owned ten winners of Triple Crown events, how was it?" Charity Caver said. "If it's like this every time, I'll have to be near Earth this time of year more often," Captain Picard said. "I held my breath from the moment Marrissa left the gate until she crossed the line." "Marrissa, this is your first Triple Crown race, and second win, how was it from your point of view," Charity asked. "In one word, exhilarating," Marrissa replied. "I've never had so much fun." The owners, trainer, and jockeys step back with both Lady Stargazer and Warp Speed for pictures. It was a real surprise to see Isabelle and Warp Speed in the winner's circle, but she at least deserved her place, as the jockey who rode Lady Stargazer to wins in the Derby and the Preakness. Amazing, apparently the whole Stargazer Stables contingent has been beamed out of Belmont Park. That's one way to avoid questions. That concludes our day at the Belmont Stakes. For Gene Humpries, Charity Caver, and Federation Broadcast Network Sports, I'm Don McKay, saying see you next year at Churchill Downs.