The New York Racing Association (NYRA) drew post positions Tuesday for Saturday’s 155th running of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, the final jewel in the Triple Crown.
It also is the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s dominant, earth-shattering Triple Crown-winning Belmont victory.
New York sports betting and racing fans will be handicapping a field of nine 3-year-olds, which were drawn for Saturday 7:02 p.m. post time.
For the first time, the Belmont will be televised on FOX.
Trainer Todd Pletcher has the top two choices in the race: No. 6 Forte, the morning-line favorite at 5-2 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, and No. 2 Tapit Trice (3-1) with Luis Saez aboard.
Forte, who is racing for the first time since winning the G1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 1, would have been the favorite in this year's Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May but was withdrawn the morning of the race due to injury.
Looking back at the last 10 winners of this race, seven have come from four trainers: Pletcher, Bob Baffert, Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen. The last three listed also have entrants in the race:
- Baffert: Preakness winner No. 4 National Treasure
- Cox (3): No. 8 Angel of Empire, No. 1 Tapit Shoes, No. 7 Hit Show
- Asmussen: No. 9 Red Route One
Pletcher - who last year finished 1-2 in the race with Mo Donegal and Nest, respectively - has won a total of four Belmont Stakes, including three of the last 10.
Baffert won the Belmont in 2015 (American Pharoah) and 2018 (Justify) to complete Triple Crown sweeps. He also won in 2001 with Pint Given.
In 2021, Cox won the Belmont with 2020 2-year-old champion Essential Quality.
Asmussen won the 2016 Belmont with Creator.
This year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Mage, is not running.
Belmont Stakes Field
Racing fans now can find a lot of racing each day on the FanDuel NY racing app.
The app has odds for daily racing throughout the U.S. and internationally.
FanDuel Sportsbook is the dominant operator among NY sports betting apps.
Belmont Revamp in Store
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced last month that one of the new bills in the budget includes language authorizing the NYRA to use a $455 million loan to build new facilities at Belmont Park.
The centerpiece of the new Belmont Park, which last was renovated in 1968, will be a new building that will completely replace the existing grandstand and clubhouse.
The NYRA also will modernize the barn area and build more new housing to support the folks living and working at Belmont.
