Horse with North Atlanta Ties Racing in Belmont Stakes Today

Horse racing enthusiasts have been looking forward to today for a while now. But for some North Atlantans today's Belmont Stakes is not just a race, it's personal. Suwanee's favorite thoroughbred, Mucho Macho Man, will have a new "quarterback" for the year's last Triple Crown race this evening.

Owner Dean Reeves, a Suwannee resident, said Thursday via telephone from Elmont, N.Y., that he and others close to the horse, including trainer Kathy Ritvo, shared thoughts after the Preakness. 3M finished sixth in the Preakness on May 21 after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby.

"We want to do everything we can to give the horse a chance to win," Reeves said.

Ramon Dominguez will be riding 3M as the "quarterback" for Saturday's 1 1/2-mile race at Belmont Park. Post time is 6:30 p.m., and NBC will begin TV coverage at 5 p.m.

Reeves and wife Patti operate Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; he said Thursday he is "thrilled to be here. I like the track, and I'm hoping for a good race.

"I'm a little calmer today, but I'm not making any promises about Saturday."

Mucho Macho Man is one of three horses to race in all three legs of the Triple Crown. Others include Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness winner Shackleford. 3M has been established as an 8-1 bet to win Saturday; the Belmont field has 12 horses.