After winning the Preakness Stakes on May 20, National Treasure looks to add another leg of the Triple Crown to its resume with a win in the 155th Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
No Kentucky Derby winner mage gets in his way. He is skipping Belmont after finishing third at Preakness. However, Derby favorite Forte, who was injured in the morning of the race with a bruised leg, is back and is considered a front-runner.
Belmont-bred horses are listed in order of post position, with commentary by The New York Times’ Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert. The morning odds were set by David Aragona of the New York Racing Association.
wallet: $1.5 million guaranteed distance: 1.5 miles
achievement: 2:24 (Secretariat, 1973)
weight: 126 pounds
post time: Saturday 7:02 p.m. Eastern Time
How to watch: Coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on Fox.
our recommendation
Joe Drape’s Picks in the Finals: Arcangelo, tapit shoes, angel of empire
Recommended by Melissa Hoppert: Tapit Trice, Forte, Arcangelo
Here’s what the fields look like:
1. Tapit shoes
trainer: Brad Cox Jockey: Jose Ortiz Odds: 20-1
drape: This long shot has the potential to control speed off the rail. He was raised for this marathon and his toning. dangerous runner.
Hoppert: His father Tapitt has produced four Belmont winners. But the stallion, who has one win out of five, won’t be able to improve on that record.
2. Tapit Trice
trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Luis Saez Odds: 3-1
drape: High cruising speed is required in this race. This stallion is a closer struggling to get out of the gate. He has low odds, but he doesn’t need to be thanked.
Hoppert: The talented gray Tappit son finished seventh in the Derby after being stuck in traffic. Since then, he’s been training well and has more room to run, so let’s hope he gets the most out of his last kick. my choice.
3. Arcangelo
trainer: Jena Antonucci Jockey: Javier Castellano Odds: 8-1
drape: This gray stallion is winning on the racetrack. He hasn’t lost to the Triple Crown grind. my choice.
Hoppert: He is growing fast and has already won at this track. Additionally, his pedigree suggests he can run 1.5 miles.
4. National Treasure
trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: John Velasquez Odds: 5-1
drape: Nice preakness win for this stallion. But this time, he won’t be able to easily take the lead, being pushed by a few others early on.
Hoppert: He beat the sticky and slow Preakness by a nose, but he’s going to struggle with the extra distance.
5. Il Miracolo
trainer: Antonio Sano Jockey: Marcos Meneses Odds: 30-1
drape: He did two intense workouts at his home ground in Gulfstream Park, Florida. He wants the lead, but I don’t think he can top that potential.
Hoppert: He ran Gate to Wire in the last one-mile option race at Gulfstream, but finished fifth or worse in Derby preparation. Passed.
6. Forte
trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Ayrad Ortiz Jr. Odds: 5-2
drape: He hasn’t raced in two months. Before the Derby Scratch, he was a ‘great’ horse. He’s going to be a “not now” horse in Belmont.
Hoppert: He won five in a row to earn Derby favorite honors, but injured his hoof on the morning of the race. He’s still a great player, but will he be able to win this grueling race after such a long hiatus?
7. hit show
trainer: Brad Cox Jockey: Manny Franco Odds: 10-1
drape: An honest stallion who has competed on four different racetracks. If he likes the Belmont, chances are.
Hoppert: He is a hard-working stallion who has fared better than his 5th place finish in the Derby indicates. But it will take a career-best performance to pull off an upset here.
8. Angels of the Empire
trainer: Brad Cox Jockey: Flavian Pratt Odds: 7-2
drape: He has performed well in the Derby and has a good chemistry with the Frenchman Pratt. If he still has gas in his tank, he’s a candidate.
Hoppert: The Derby third-placed horse is set to add a blinker at Belmont, but should improve in this marathon as Pratt continues to move closer to the front.
9. Red Route 1
trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Joel Rosario Odds: 15-1
drape: Closer with just 2 out of 10 tries? no thanks.
Hoppert: A fourth-place finish in slow preakness does little to inspire confidence.
