On Wednesday, June 5, War Emblem's regular jockey Victor Espinoza dropped by to answer a few of your questions prior to this Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Here are his answers ...

Who most worries you in the Belmont? And, what do you expect the pace to be like?
Kirsten Lie-Nielsen
Camden, Maine
Probably everyone in the race! Everyone will be trouble. I just don't worry about it. I am so focused on my own horse. I really don't know what to expect as to the pace. It could be anything so you have to be prepared for anything. I'm just ready to make the right decision!
 

How do you like the No. 10 post position? How do you think it will play into the race?
Margaret Falk
Tucson, Arizona
I don't think there is any difference. I hope 10 will be my lucky number!! We'll just have to find out on Saturday.
 

I was wondering if you think War Emblem is as good has Point Given was last year?
Sarah
Huntington Beach
Better. I think he is a better horse as the last couple races have shown. If you look at his record from way back, every time he wins he wins by like 10 lengths. That is better than any other horse at 2 years old.
 

Magic Weisner was coming on pretty strong in the Preakness, if the race was run over a longer distance, do you think War Emblem would have had another gear to hold him off?
Amanda Procasco
Duncannon, Pa
Definitely. I was just cruising in when I knew I had already won the race. I was in good shape. The other horses looked like they were closing because I wasn't using everything I had.
 

What thoughts go through your head when you're on the horse and in the gate before the Triple Crown races?
Veronica Castro
Odenton
All the big races I ride, I think about nothing. Your mind has to be somewhere else and you have to forget about everything else going on.
 

Do you think War Emblem is the best horse you've ever ridden?
Maurita Shollar
Pottstown
Yes. Definitely. He is the best horse I have been on in all my years. I ride the best horses all over the country but War Emblem is something special.
 

How do you recognize and correctly gauge how much energy a horse has left and when it is the correct time to make a move and win a race? Be honest, Does War Emblem really have what it takes to win Belmont?
Nazareth Haysbert
Washington D.C.
Well, that depends on how the race is set up and which horses are going. You have to know all that to make the right decisions. It's very different from race to race.
 

Is there any advice you would give a young person, male or female, who wants to become a jockey?
Kelly Eefsting
Hudsonville, MI
Don't eat too much! Exercise a lot and just be focused. Always think about being the best, always the best. Don't think about being a lousy jockey, think about winning all the big big races!
 

Do you have any concerns about War Emblem running on the deeper surface at Belmont?
Randy Davis
Clayton, Indiana
So far no.
 

Should you win the Triple Crown with War Emblem what are your feelings as to what should be done with him after: retire or continue?
Shane Blitz
Vancouver
I'll let you know after the race!!
 

How do you keep your mind focused when you know that you are now the hunted and not the hunter? Being the primary favorite to not only win the Belmont, but win the Triple Crown- how do you keep you and your horse focused?
Kevin Kelly
Philadelphia, PA
It's not hard. I have more fun when everyone knows I have the best horse. I get excited and concentrate even more on my own horse.
 

With a sprinter such as War Emblem, if you don't get out in front or close to the front early how does your strategy change?
Wesley Folds
Conway, Arizona
Nothing will happen if I don't get the early lead. It was difficult for me to find out if War Emblem could ride from behind the horses before the Preakness. That's why there was a lot of pressure on me at the Preakness. At the Kentucky Derby he went wire-to-wire. The Preakness had a quicker pace and I was a little worried about that. But now I have even more confidence in our horse because I know he can go either way. I don't worry about it at all.
 

What will the next couple days be like for you? What is it like leading up to a big race?
Rhonda Baker
Olathe, Kansas
I try to not do too much. I relax and just sleep enough. I try not to think about the race too much and not talk too much. I definitely don't like to talk too much. That's not my job!