The third and final leg of the Triple Crown takes place on Saturday as Belmont Park hosts its most famous race, the Belmont Stakes.
Nine 3-year-olds are primed to take on the 1 mile 4 furlongs of New York State dirt in the hope of winning the bulk of the $1.5 million purse. At the head of the market at 2.87 with William Hill is Forte, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz, who were victorious last year with Mo Donegal.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 9th, 3:30 P.M. (BST)
Forte has won his last four races, three at Grade 1 level and one at Grade 2. The most recent was the Florida Derby in April where he beat soon-to-be Kentucky Derby winner Mage by a length. He also tasted victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Breeders’ Futurity, both at Keeneland late last year.
One of two close challengers is another from Pletcher’s yard, Tapit Trice, whose seventh in the Kentucky Derby ended a previously-unbeaten career. The horse’s standout win was the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in May. Luis Saez takes his usual ride.
Tapit Trice and Brad H. Cox’s Angel of Empire are both at 4.33. Angel of Empire finished third in the Kentucky Derby, having taken a Grade 1 win in the Arkansas Derby in April. Cox took his first Belmont win two years ago with Essential Quality, while jockey Flavien Prat is looking for his first win.
Winner of the middle jewel in the Triple Crown was National Treasure, who took the Preakness Stakes title on his first run since rejoining Bob Baffert. He and jockey John Velazquez are a 6.50 chance to complete two legs of the three.
His only place outside the first three in a race was the Santa Anita Derby, where he finished fourth in his only run for Tim Yakteen.
Arcangelo (13.00) was a winner at Belmont less than a month ago in a Grade 3 but is yet to run over this distance. At the same price is Hit Show who finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, his first outing at Grade 1 level.
Red Route One (21.00) was fourth of seven in the Preakness and is still looking for a graded win after seven attempts, while 26.00 chance Tapit Shoes was second to Red Route One in his last appearance.
Needing a minor miracle to win is Il Miracolo at 51.00, who has never entered a graded race and has never won over more than a mile.
