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Having been an inveterate horseplayer since about 1980, I have a healthy interest in ALL horseraces, and of course the Triple Crown races are a special event. When I saw Restoring Hope was part of the Belmont field, under the Baffert banner, I figured he might well be used as a “rabbit”——this is very common at all levels of races, everywhere, at every track, when the opportunity presents itself-—it’s probably rare in a crucial race like the last leg of the Triple Crown, but there’s certainly nothing about it that can’t be taken into account and dealt with by all the other trainers, horses, owners and especially jockeys.There was no objection from other jockeys, and no steward’s inquiry, and maybe, even if there was some legitimate complaint against Restoring Hope, it would have soured the justified victory of Justify, and the expectation of another Triple Crown winner. For myself, I was most interested in GRONKOWSKI, and I was touting him to whoever would listen, especially with Jose Ortiz aboard. Gronkowski closing so fast, from way back most of this long long race, was very exciting , and I put him stupidly third and fourth in a bunch of my small, 10 cent superfecta tickets...there was probably no way he could have won over Justify, even if the race were another 1/8th or 1/4 mile longer.....still, it was a good exacta with the heavily favored Justify on top.I neglected to make that bet,unfortunately.