NEW YORK (AP) -Alexis Barba has been enjoying the sights and sounds of New York, a pleasant diversion from the serious business of trying to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and becoming the first female trainer to capture a Triple Crown race.

Shelly Riley came closest when Casual Lies ran second in the 1992 Kentucky Derby.

Barba gets a second chance this year with Make Music for Me, 10-1 in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont.

On Tuesday afternoon, the 57-year-old Barba visited the Empire State Building for a promotional photo opportunity.

``It was fun to see the view,'' Barba said. ``I'd been up there before, but it was at night. That's a lot different.''

Back at Belmont, Barba has been focused on getting her colt ready for the challenge of facing 11 rivals. This time, Make Music for Me will command more respect than in the Derby

The horse was an afterthought at Churchill Downs, a runner who slipped in at the last moment when a more accomplished horse withdrew only hours before entries closed.

The winner of only one of nine races showed he belonged. The early trailer in the 20-horse field at 30-1 odds, Make Music for Me swung eight wide under jockey Joel Rosario and closed determinedly to finish fourth.

Barba opted to skip the Preakness and point the colt toward the Belmont.

Eight women have saddled Belmont runners. Linda Rice was the most recent, getting fifth with Supervisor in 2003.

Barba doesn't tire of people asking about her quest to break the Triple Crown gender barrier.

``I suppose it's a legitimate question, but anybody who wins any Triple Crown race - who's going to be happier? It's unexplainable. So it's fun, it would definitely be historical,'' Barba said.

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ZITO OMENS: Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito is a big believer in lucky omens and the power of dreams. Zito is on the hunt for positives as he prepares Ice Box, the 3-1 favorite, and Fly Down, 9-2, for the Belmont.

Finding a four-leaf clover or a heads-up penny is always welcome. So are dreams with good outcomes. So far, the signals are mixed.

``I've had some weird dreams,'' Zito said. ``I don't know what they mean. Maybe it will all work out. God controls all that works out but I've had a few nice dreams and a few whatever dreams. I just hope it works out good.''

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MISSING THE BUZZ: The Belmont lost much of its buzz when Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver finished eighth in the Preakness, ending a possible run at the Triple Crown.

After the loss at Pimlico, trainer Todd Pletcher opted to give Super Saver a vacation, taking him out of consideration for the Belmont. While that makes the job easier for the 12 horses in the race, Nick Zito was pulling for another chance to upset a horse going for the sweep.

Zito has already done it twice. His Birdstone denied Smarty Jones a Triple Crown in the 2004 Belmont. In 2008, Da' Tara took the Belmont as Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown was eased under the wire.

``It would have been great,'' Zito said. ``Todd (Pletcher) is from Dallas and I don't think he knows much about pizza. But it would have been an unbelievable story because I knew I was going to have a horse in the race. It would be great for racing but it didn't happen.''

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FINISH LINES: The Empire State Building will be bathed in green and white lights Friday night, the traditional colors of Belmont Park and the Belmont Stakes. ... David Grening of the Daily Racing Form and Bob Fortus of the New Orleans Times-Picayune were winners of the inaugural Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Contest for the best stories on the 2009 Belmont.