A field of eight line up on Saturday in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1), the third jewel of racing’s Triple Crown.
While there is no Triple Crown hanging in the balance, we get to see Rich Strike, the 80-1 upset winner of the Kentucky Derby back in action after bypassing in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
The colt is the 7-2 third choice on the morning line. Jockey Sonny Leon has the return call on the son of Keen Ice for trainer Eric Reed.
Peter Pan (G2) winner We the People was installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The Rudy Brisset trainee drew the rail with Flavien Prat getting the return call.
Click here for Michael Dempsey’s Belmont Stakes Day Report with selections and analysis for the entire card.
“The way he has been acting is what you want to see,” said Brisset, who will be saddling his first Belmont Stakes contender. “The way he has changed is really good. When you let him breeze and he breezes that good, it’s all a good sign.”
PlayUp Racebook is your best bet! Sign up today and receive up to a $250 Deposit Bonus and great Wager Rewards!
The Todd Pletcher trained Mo Donegal is the second choice on the morning line at 5-2. The colt made a belated run to finish fifth in the Kentucky Derby and also skipped the Preakness. The colt won the Wood Memorial (G2) in his previous start, beating Early Voting who went on to win the Preakness.
Pletcher has saddled three Belmont Stakes winners. and his last two were with runners that skipped the Preakness. Tapwrit was sixth in the Derby and won the 2017 Belmont and Palace Malice was 12th in the Derby and won this race in 2013. Pletcher’s other Belmont win came with the filly Rags to Riches who was exiting her victory in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Pletcher sends out the filly Nest (8-1), who was the runner up in the Kentucky Oaks in her last outing. Jose Ortiz has the ride and will break from the three post.
“They’ve both trained super,” Pletcher said. “Both have trained here and breezed together all three times and I’m really excited about the way they’re coming into it and the way they came out of their last breezes.”
There are a total of eight Grade 1 races on the Belmont Stakes Day card. First post is 11:20am ET and post time for the Belmont Stakes is 6:44 ET.
