While there is no Triple Crown on the line this year, this weekend?s US $1 million Belmont Stakes still promises to be an exciting race with the Preakness Stakes? winner and third-place finisher leading a field of seven thoroughbreds.
Bet the Belmont at betED.com, which has Curlin the favorite at +110 and Hard Spun close behind at +200 Rags to Riches is +250.
Curlin, which won the Preakness Stakes and finished third in the Kentucky Derby, has the No. 3 post position under Robby Albarado, and Hard Spun, second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness, is in the No. 6 position. Rags to Riches drew the No. 7 post for Saturday's Belmont.
Derby winner Street Sense will not race in the Belmont after his Triple Crown chance ended with a second-place finish at the Preakness.
First run in 1867, the Belmont is the oldest of the Triple Crown races, six years older than the Preakness and eight older than the Derby. It is the fourth-oldest Stakes race in North America behind the Phoenix Stakes (now Keeneland?s Phoenix Breeder?s Cup) in 1831, The Queen?s Plate (Canada) in 1860 and the Travers (Saratoga) in 1864.
It?s also the longest of the three races at 1? miles, an eighth of a mile shorter than its original mile-and-five-eighths length.
Curlin will try to become the third horse in seven years to capture the Preakness and Belmont. Point Given in 2001 and Afleet Alex in 2005 won two-thirds of the Triple Crown after failing to win the Kentucky Derby.
Hard Spun will be ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez, who replaces Mario Pino. Gomez was the regular rider for Rags to Riches, but committed last week to riding Hard Spun.
Rags to Riches becomes the 22nd filly to run in the Belmont and the first since Silverbulletday finished seventh in 1999. The Kentucky Oaks winner will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.
Also entered are Imawildandcrazyguy, Tiago, Slew's Tizzy and C P West.
The field, from the rail out: Imawildandcrazyguy (Mark Guidry, 20-1); Tiago (Mike Smith, 10-1); Curlin; C P West (Edgar Prado, 12-1); Slew's Tizzy (Rafael Bejarano, 20-1); Hard Spun; and Rags to Riches.
Bet the Belmont at betED.com, which has Curlin the favorite at +110 and Hard Spun close behind at +200 Rags to Riches is +250.
Curlin, which won the Preakness Stakes and finished third in the Kentucky Derby, has the No. 3 post position under Robby Albarado, and Hard Spun, second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness, is in the No. 6 position. Rags to Riches drew the No. 7 post for Saturday's Belmont.
Derby winner Street Sense will not race in the Belmont after his Triple Crown chance ended with a second-place finish at the Preakness.
First run in 1867, the Belmont is the oldest of the Triple Crown races, six years older than the Preakness and eight older than the Derby. It is the fourth-oldest Stakes race in North America behind the Phoenix Stakes (now Keeneland?s Phoenix Breeder?s Cup) in 1831, The Queen?s Plate (Canada) in 1860 and the Travers (Saratoga) in 1864.
It?s also the longest of the three races at 1? miles, an eighth of a mile shorter than its original mile-and-five-eighths length.
Curlin will try to become the third horse in seven years to capture the Preakness and Belmont. Point Given in 2001 and Afleet Alex in 2005 won two-thirds of the Triple Crown after failing to win the Kentucky Derby.
Hard Spun will be ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez, who replaces Mario Pino. Gomez was the regular rider for Rags to Riches, but committed last week to riding Hard Spun.
Rags to Riches becomes the 22nd filly to run in the Belmont and the first since Silverbulletday finished seventh in 1999. The Kentucky Oaks winner will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.
Also entered are Imawildandcrazyguy, Tiago, Slew's Tizzy and C P West.
The field, from the rail out: Imawildandcrazyguy (Mark Guidry, 20-1); Tiago (Mike Smith, 10-1); Curlin; C P West (Edgar Prado, 12-1); Slew's Tizzy (Rafael Bejarano, 20-1); Hard Spun; and Rags to Riches.
