The withdrawal of standout Classic Empire has turned the Belmont Stakes into a scramble. Perhaps it would have been chaotic anyway. After all, seven of the last nine Belmont winners paid more than $20. Bettors shopping for a price will find plenty of choices, including an improving colt whose form might be better than it appears. SENIOR INVESTMENT has outrun expectations all year. He crossed the wire first in three of five starts and never has been favored; his lowest odds were 5-1. His effort in the Preakness was perhaps better than it looks. In a race dominated by speed – the one-two finishers were forwardly placed – Senior Investment rallied from far back to finish third. He ran against the “shape” of the race, and ran well. The winner of a Grade 3 two back, Grade 1-placed last out, with upward speed figures, and trained by a man whose 2002 Belmont winner, Sarava, paid $142.50, Senior Investment gets the call to rally for the win. And face it, without Classic Empire, this race is wide open. :: Crush the Belmont Stakes with PPs, Clocker Reports, and more! TAPWRIT was among the top prospects from Florida early this year, only to be derailed by tough trips in the Blue Grass and Kentucky Derby. He has had five weeks between starts and will try to follow in the footsteps of Derby off-the-board finishers who won the Belmont next out. Since 2000, it has happened seven times. Creator, Palace Malice, Union Rags, Summer Bird, Jazil, Birdstone, and Commendable scored Belmont upsets after being unplaced in the Derby. Tapwrit would be another in a long line. TWISTED TOM is not fast enough on numbers (78 career-high Beyer Speed Figure), but he has won all three starts this year, and his trainer is on a roll. Furthermore, it was only nine years ago that a similar Federico Tesio Stakes winner (Ruler On Ice) scored a Belmont upset. Twisted Tom should be forwardly placed. GORMLEY, whose Belmont status was undetermined until early this week, could be ranked too low. The Santa Anita Derby winner was ninth in the Kentucky Derby. He skipped the Preakness and enters the Belmont fresh. His pressing style means he is less sensitive to pace. Lookin At Lee, the only Belmont entrant who contested the Derby and Preakness, will put in his usual rally. Irish War Cry was this handicapper’s pick to win the Derby. He looked like a winner on the far turn, then chucked it. Not sure if he wants to run this far, but who really does?