NEW YORK - The absence of a Triple Crown try hasn't always stopped racing fans from flocking to the Belmont Stakes.

For the first time in four years, there wasn't a Smarty Jones, Funny Cide or War Emblem drawing record crowds topping 100,000 and then falling short in the Belmont after victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

The alternative in Saturday's Belmont was an appealing one, though: a rematch between Derby winner Giacomo vs. Preakness winner Afleet Alex.

It worked the last time, and New York racing officials were hoping 75,000 fans will out on what is expected to be a hot, humid day with a chance of thunderstorms. In 2001, a crowd of 73,857 - the seventh largest crowd in 136 Belmonts - showed up for Preakness winner Point Given's victory over Derby winner Monarchos, who finished third.

Giacomo, the 50-1 long shot Derby winner, and Afleet Alex, who nearly fell before winning the Preakness, are the only horses who will have run in all three Triple Crown races. And that's kind of fitting, trainer Nick Zito figures.

"They are the only two horses left standing," said Zito, who spoiled Smarty Jones' Triple shot with Birdstone last year. "It's great to have a rematch. It should be a lot of fun."

Nine other horses were entered, all with undistinguished resumes totaling one graded stakes win and a combined 16 victories from 54 starts. Afleet Alex was the 6-5 morning-line favorite, with Giacomo the second choice at 4-1.

Among the projected starters were three trained by Zito - Andromeda's Hero, Indy Storm and Pinpoint. Zito is 0-for-8 in the Derby and Preakness, but he's hoping one of his second-stringers can pull an upset, just as Birdstone did at 36-1 odds.

"We've got a decent bench," said Zito said, "and hopefully one of them can come up with a good play."

All eyes were on the acrobatic Afleet Alex, who, by the way, is 2-for-2 over sloppy tracks.

Coming off his remarkable victory in the Preakness, when he nearly fell to his knees after clipping heels with Scrappy T at the top of the stretch, Afleet Alex is running for more than racing glory.

The colt's owners, a bunch of Philadelphia-area pals, have been donating a share of Afleet Alex's earnings to pediatric cancer research. So much interest has been generated that more than 30 racetracks and 1,000 other locations will operate Alex's Lemonade stands Saturday.

"I feel privileged to be able to speak for this cause and raise money for it," Afleet Alex trainer Tim Ritchey said Friday. "It'll be a great horse race, but there's more to life than just horse racing ... and this is part of it."

With a win, Afleet Alex would join such greats as Native Dancer, Nashua and Damascus among a select group of Preakness-Belmont winners who just missed in the Derby. Afleet Alex was third, a length behind Giacomo and runner-up Closing Argument.

"He's the most athletic and agile horse I've ever been around," said Ritchey. "And that includes show horses who jump six-foot fences, steeplechasers, three-day event horses."

John Shirreffs, who trains Giacomo, wasn't only concerned about beating Afleet Alex.

"The horse with fresh legs could pull off the upset," Shirreffs said. "I'm sure Tim Ritchey feels confident because his horse has campaigned so well. It's a thrill for us to get this opportunity to let Giacomo show himself ... But there's always the fresh horse factor."

Post time is 6:33 p.m..