The Belmont Stakes as we all know it is back.
Eight 3-year-olds will contest the 1½-mile “Test of a Champion” on Saturday afternoon over Big Sandy. Post time from Belmont Park is 6:49 p.m. EDT, with NBC to broadcast the Grade 1, $1.5 million event.
>>>Bet the Belmont & Get $25 FREE from NYRABets!<<<
COVID’s effects on the 2020 racing schedule led last year’s Belmont to run at 1 1/8 miles in front of an empty grandstand. Tiz the Law won a race that started a reconfigured Triple Crown series instead of ending it.
For 2021, the Belmont is back to its 12-furlong distance, back to running as the final leg of the American Classics and back to taking place in front of a crowd.
Click here for Belmont Park entries and results.
Essential Quality, Eclipse Award winner as 2020’s champion 2-year-old, has been installed as 2-1 morning-line favorite. Jockey Luis Saez will pilot the Tapit colt, who suffered the first defeat of his six-race career last out when running fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
The Godolphin homebred Essential Quality has worked sharply since the Derby, including a bullet five furlongs in 59.4 seconds last weekend at Churchill Downs. Both Saez and trainer Brad Cox seek their first Belmont Stakes victory.
Preakness Stakes hero Rombauer is 3-1 on the morning line for trainer Michael McCarthy. Kentucky Derby-winning jockey John Velazquez will get a leg up in lieu of Preakness-winning rider Flavien Prat, who will instead pilot third-place Derby runner Hot Rod Charlie (7-2).
Related: See the veterinary records of all the Belmont horses|
See what contenders were up to Friday
Santa Anita Derby (G1) victor Rock Your World (9-2), the Todd Pletcher-trained trio of Known Agenda (6-1), Bourbonic (15-1) and Overtook (20-1) and Preakness also-ran France Go de Ina (30-1) round out the field.
Here is a look at the 2021 Belmont Stakes field (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:
1. Bourbonic (Todd Pletcher, Kendrick Carmouche), 15-1
2. Essential Quality (Brad Cox, Luis Saez), 2-1
3. Rombauer (Michael McCarthy, John Velazquez), 3-1
4. Hot Rod Charlie (Doug O’Neill, Flavien Prat), 7-2
5. France Go de Ina (Hideyuki Mori, Ricardo Santana Jr.), 30-1
6. Known Agenda (Todd Pletcher, Jose Ortiz), 6-1
7. Rock Your World (John Sadler, Joel Rosario), 9-2
8. Overtook (Todd Pletcher, Manny Franco), 20-1
TimeformUS’ pace projections show Rock Your World going out to the lead under jockey Joel Rosario, who will hope for a better start to the Belmont Stakes than he endured in the Kentucky Derby. Favorite Essential Quality is projected to sit fourth in the early going.
For more information on the Belmont Stakes’ eight runners, plus some of Saturday’s other big stakes entrants, visit Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page.
Belmont Stakes links
Padraic Manocchio takes a crack at predicting the Belmont Stakes full order of finish.
Mike Shutty, author of the Super Screener, provides key insights to hit the Belmont Stakes superfecta.
After Essential Quality’s Kentucky Derby defeat, connections circled August’s Travers Stakes (G1) as the colt’s major summer goal. But trainer Brad Cox told Tim Wilkin the Tapit colt “responded the right way out of the Derby, and we’re pressing forward to the Belmont.”
Is Hot Rod Charlie the wise-guy horse in this year’s Belmont Stakes? Ron Flatter spoke with trainer Doug O’Neill about the Louisiana Derby (G2) winner, who has finished on the board in each of his last five starts without going off as the favorite in any of them.
Hot Rod Charlie has a large, fun-loving ownership group that spans multiple generations. The New York Racing Association Press Office caught up with some of the team who will be at Belmont Park to cheer on the Kentucky Derby third-place finisher.
Reinier Macatangay writes why you need to consider Known Agenda, the Florida Derby (G1) winner who suffered a rough Kentucky Derby trip.
Trainer Todd Pletcher is a three-time Belmont Stakes winner with three 2021 Belmont runners. Wilkin reports what the newly elected Hall of Famer thinks about his trio of Bourbonic, Known Agenda and Overtook.
Three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will not participate in the Belmont Stakes as he recovers from a Thursday spill. Ortiz’s agent, Steve Rushing, spoke to Flatter about how his client is feeling.
This week on HorseCenter, hosts Matt Shifman and Brian Zipse handicap the Belmont Stakes and preview other Grade 1 races on Saturday’s card.
Keeler Johnson looks back on seven recent Belmont Stakes upsets – some of which memorably spoiled Triple Crown bids.
Mark Midland looks back through the last five runnings of the Belmont Stakes to see which of the race’s alumni are still racing.
Other Saturday stakes
Courtesy of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, here is a look at some of the other graded stakes taking place Saturday at Belmont and elsewhere across the U.S. All times are EDT.
Check out Reinier Macatangay’s Saturday Plays for Belmont Stakes card wagering strategies.
12:47 p.m. – $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, FS2
Kirk and Judy Robison’sJackie’s Warrior, winner of the Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs, leads a field of six 3-year-olds in the Woody Stephens going seven furlongs. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Jackie’s Warrior finished fourth as the odds-on favorite in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. After a third-place finish in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn, Asmussen took Jackie’s Warrior off the Triple Crown trail and into the one-mile Pat Day, where he finished a head better thanDream Shake.Joel Rosario has the mount on Jackie’s Warrior from post three. Owned by Exline-Border Racing, Peter Eurton, Richard Hausman and Stonestreet Stables, Dream Shake, trained by Eurton, finished third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) before the Pat Day Mile. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trainedDrain the Clockis 3-for-4 this year and won the Bay Shore (G3) at Aqueduct on April 3.
1:22 p.m. –$400,000 Brooklyn Stakes (G2), Belmont Park, FS2
My Racehorse and Spendthrift Farm’sTizamagician, a nine-length winner of the 1½-mile Tokyo City Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita, ships in to face eight rivals at the 1½-mile distance in the Brooklyn Stakes for 4-year-olds and up. Trained by Richard Mandella, Flavien Prat will ride Tizamagician, a 4-year-old son of Tiznow, from post 8. Breaking next to Tizamagician in post nine is Flying P Stable’s 6-year-oldLone Rock, winner of the 1½-mile Isaac Murphy Marathon at Churchill Downs on April 27 for trainer Robertino Diodoro. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sends out Shadwell Stable’sAjaaweed, second in the Flat Out Stakes at Belmont on April 30 and Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’Moretti, second in last year’s Suburban (G2) at Belmont, who is making his 2021 debut.
Related: Barn Tour: Mandella updates United, Soothsay and more
2:01 p.m. – $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, FS2
Klaravich Stables’ Search Results is the even-money morning line favorite in a field of six 3-year-old fillies going one mile in the Acorn Stakes. Trained by Chad Brown, Search Results finished a head behind Malathaat in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on April 30. The dark bay daughter of Flatter is 3-for-4, including a win in the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct. OXO Exline’sTravel Column, fifth in the Kentucky Oaks as the 7-2 second choice, won the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) for trainer Brad Cox in March. Tim Hamm and Siena Farm’sDayoutoftheoffice, who is trained by Hamm, finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and finished second to 16-1Obligatoryin the seven-furlong Eight Belles (G2) at Churchill on April 30as the 3-1 favorite.John Velazquez rides from post four. Juddmonte’s Obligatory, trained by Bill Mott, has two wins in four starts.
Related: Horak: Picks and wagering strategies for the G1 Acorn
2:41 p.m. –$400,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, FS2
Twelve turf sprinters have been entered for the Jaipur Stakes at six furlongs, with the Wesley Ward-owned and trainedBound for Nowherethe 2-1 morning line choice in a wide-open race. A winner of seven of 15 starts, the 7-year-old Bound for Nowhere won the Shakertown (G2) at Keeneland by a nose in his seasonal debut. Rosario will ride Bound for Nowhere from post six. Brad Grady’sFast Boatwon the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs by a half-length over Swifty Farms’ and Peter Miller-trainedSombeyay.Two mares in the field are the 6-year-oldGot Stormy, a two-time Grade 1 winner for trainer Mark Casse, and the 7-year-old defending championOleksandra, who won last year’s race by a neck for trainer Neil Drysdale. The Jaipur winner will earn an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November.
3:18 p.m. – $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1), Belmont Park, NBCSN
St. George Stable’sLetruskaleads fiveolder fillies and mares in the 1 1/8-mile Ogden Phipps. The 5-year-old Letruska, trained by Fausto Gutierrez, has won 13 of 18 starts, and her nose victory over Monomoy Girl in the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn Park on April 17 is her career highlight. The Cox-trainedShedaresthedevilis 2-for-2 this year, taking the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn and the La Troienne (G1) at Churchill Downs. Ridden by Florent Geroux from post five, Shedaresthedevil won last year’s Kentucky Oaks. Cox is also starting Juddmonte’s 4-year-oldBonny South, who won the Baird Doubledogdare at Keeneland on April 16. The Ogden Phipps winner will gain a free starting position into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Last year’s 3-year-old filly champion Swiss Skydiver was scratched from the Ogden Phipps on Friday due to a fever.
Related: Head to Head: Handicapping the 2021 Ogden Phipps
3:58 p.m. –$500,000 Just a Game Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, NBCSN
An extremely competitive field of 12 fillies and mares, including three from Brown and two from Charlie Appleby, are set to battle at one mile on turf in the Just a Game. Peter Brant’s 5-year-oldBlowout, trained by Brown and ridden by Prat from post 11,is the tepid 4-1 morning line favorite off her half-length win over the Mott-trainedNew York Girlin the Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (G2). Brown’s two other starters areTamahere, second in the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland last out, andRegal Glory, who was fourth in last year’s Just a Game, and won the black type Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct on April 11. Appleby has sent over from England two Godolphin 4-year-old fillies inSummer Romance andAlthiqa,the first and third place-finishers, respectively, in the one-mile Balanchine Stakes (G2) at Meydan on Feb. 18.
4:42 p.m. – $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Belmont Park, NBCSN
A much-anticipated matchup between Korea Racing Authority’sKnicks Goand Cash is King and LC Racing’sMischevious Alexis set for the Metropolitan Handicap at one mile with six runners entered. Trained by Cox, the 5-year-old Knicks Go won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland and this year’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream. Ridden by Rosario from post six, Knicks Go will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the Saudi Cup (G1) in February. Mischevious Alex has won all three of his starts this year, punctuated by a terrific performance in the seven-furlong Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct by 5 1 /2 lengths. A 4-year-old son of Into Mischief, Mischevious Alex is trained by Joseph, Jr. Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing’s 4-year-oldSilver State, trained by Asmussen, is also 3-for-3 this year, with his latest win coming in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 17. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount, breaking from post three. The winner of the Metropolitan Handicap will gain a free berth into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Related: Met Mile odds, analysis: Who can challenge Knicks Go?
5:28 p.m. – $750,000 Manhattan Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, NBC
Robert and Lawana Low’sColonel Liamand Klaravich Stables’Domestic Spending, who finished in a dead heat for the win in the Turf Classic (G1) on May 1, headline the Manhattan Stakes. A field of 11 is set for the 1 1 /4-mile turf test for 4-year-olds and up. Colonel Liam, trained by Pletcher, is unbeaten this year in three starts. In addition to the Turf Classic, the 4-year-old son of Liam’s Map won the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January and the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds.Domestic Spending, trained by Brown, has won five of six starts, including last November’s Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar. Prat has the mount, starting from post four. Otter Bend Stables’Gufo, trained by Christophe Clement and ridden by Rosario from post nine, won last year’s Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1), and was second by a nose toChannel Catin the Man o’ War (G1) at Belmont in his 2021 debut May 8.Prior to the Man o’ War, Channel Cat, trained by Jack Sisterson for Calumet Farm, was second in the Elkhorn Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
Related: Saturday's Best Bet: Domestic Spending pays out
5:30 p.m. – $150,000 Monmouth Stakes (G3), Monmouth Park, TVG
Brown has entered two formidable choices inTribhuvan andDevamanileading a 10-horse field, with two also-eligibles, in the Monmouth Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Tribhuvan, owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso, won the Fort Marcy (G2) at Belmont on May 1 in his seasonal debut. Carlos Hernandez has the mount on the son of Toronado, from post 6. The 7-year-old Devamani, owned by Dubb, Sanford Goldfarb and Samuel Abraham, fourth in the Fort Marcy, won last October’s Knickerbocker (G2) at Belmont. Nik Juarez rides, breaking from post four. Augustin Stable’s 6-year-old geldingCorelli, trained by Jonathan Thomas, finished third in last year’s United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth. In his first start this year, Corelli, ridden from post nine by Jevian Toledo, won the listed Henry S. Clark Stakes at Pimlico on April 24.
7:52 p.m. – $200,000 Monrovia Stakes (G2), Santa Anita, TVG
Ciaglia Racing LLC, Highland Yard LLC, River Oak Farm and Domenic Savides’ Venetian Harborleads eight older fillies and mares in the Monrovia Stakes at 6½ furlongs on turf at Santa Anita. A 4-year-old by Munnings, trained by Richard Baltas and ridden from post seven by Mario Gutierrez, Venetian Harbor has won three of eight races, including Grade 2 wins in the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita and in the Raven Run at Keeneland. Saturday’s race will be her first start since finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Keith Abrams’Constantia, trained by John Sadler and ridden from post three by Umberto Rispoli, will be making her graded-stakes debut. She has won three of four starts this year, the latest being the listed Mizdirection Stakes over the course April 17. The Mandella-trainedSuperstitionfinished second in the Mizdirection following a victory in the black type Wishing Well on Feb. 15 at Santa Anita.
Belmont Stakes preview
From the New York Racing Association Press Office:
A talented group that includes an Eclipse Award winner and an American Classic victor will comprise an eight-horse field for the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park, marking the third and final leg of the Triple Crown.
The Belmont Stakes is carded as Race 11 with a post time of 6:49 p.m. EDT. NBC will have live coverage starting at 5 p.m.
After a schedule adjustment last year due to the COVID pandemic, the Belmont Stakes has returned to its usual spot on the calendar following the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. It also will be contested again at its famed 1 1/2-mile distance going once around Big Sandy and in front of live spectators.
Those fans will get to see a field that includes Godolphin’s Essential Quality, who won last year’s Breeders Futurity (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile en route to locking up champion 2-year-old colt honors and garnering an Eclipse Award for conditioner Brad Cox as champion trainer.
Essential Quality, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, started his career 5-for-5, notching four graded stakes scores, including the Southwest (G3) in February at Oaklawn Park and the Blue Grass (G2) in April at Keeneland to start his sophom*ore campaign. The Tapit colt ran a competitive fourth in the Kentucky Derby in his lone non-winning effort but still tallied a career-high 100 Beyer Speed Figure for finishing one length shy of winner Medina Spirit.
“He ran what I thought was a winning race in the Derby; he didn’t have the trip, but he showed up and he’s been improving in every start,” said Cox, who will be saddling his first Belmont Stakes contender. “I’m confident that he can handle the mile and a half. Just based off his works and his races, he’s very steady and doesn’t seem to get tired. He has a tremendous amount of stamina that I think he was just blessed with based on his pedigree.
“He’s got a nice balance of speed and stamina, which is what it takes to win any Grade 1,” Cox continued. “He’s never shown signs that he couldn’t (get the 12 furlongs), but you never know until you do it.”
Essential Quality drew post 2 and will again have the services of jockey Luis Saez, who will be looking to win his first American Classic. Saez’s closest finish in a Triple Crown race came in 2018 when Bravazo was the Preakness runner-up.
“Luis has a ton of confidence in the colt and he’s confident Essential Quality can get the distance,” Cox said. “We’re hopefully set up for a big race Saturday.”
John and Diane Fradkin’s homebred Rombauer enters off his impressive 3 1/2-length win in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness on May 15 at Pimlico and will look to become the first horse to complete the Belmont-Preakness Double since Afleet Alex in 2005 (both American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 were victorious in all three legs to become the 12th and 13th respective Triple Crown winners).
Rombauer, who won the El Camino Real Derby in February on the Golden Gate Tapeta, has already earned a reputation as a versatile threat, posting wins on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces while earning stakes placing at four different racetracks, including second to Get Her Number in the American Pharoah (G1) in September and third in the Blue Grass in his final tune-up before the Preakness.
“He's a well put-together horse. He's well balanced,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “He's not overly big. His mechanics are great and he's a horse that when you lead him over there, he has his mind on running. I think his best weapon is what's in between his ears.”
Historic Belmont Park has been a big part of McCarthy’s career, which included invaluable lessons working as an assistant for newly named Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher before going out on his own full time in 2014. The 50-year-old McCarthy won his lone Breeders’ Cup race in 2018 when City of Light captured the Dirt Mile and Rombauer provided his first win in an American Classic with a chance to earn another at a familiar track.
“It would be fantastic. I have a lot of good memories here,” McCarthy said. “To win any Triple Crown race is fantastic, the Belmont is really the “Test of the Champion,” and it would certainly be nice to hoist a trophy like that on Saturday.”
Flavien Prat rode Rombauer in his Preakness win but will have the call on Hot Rod Charlie in the Belmont Stakes. McCarthy didn’t have to scour the country for a qualified rider, as Hall of Famer and two-time Belmont Stakes-winner John Velazquez will provide his expertise, breaking from post 3.
“He's had several different riders and it's not something that's bothered me,” McCarthy said. “It would have been nice to have Flavien back, but I feel we have a wonderful substitute. This has been Johnny's home track for 25 plus years and he's very familiar with this race and the way it plays out. I'm very happy with where I'm at.”
Rombauer is listed at 3-1 on the morning line.
Hot Rod Charlie ran a strong third, just one length back to winner Medina Spirit, in the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Doug O’Neill said the son of Oxbow should be fresh after skipping the Preakness and is optimistic he can handle the famed 12-furlong distance after netting a personal-best 100 Beyer for his effort in the 1 1/4-mile Run for the Roses that marked Hot Rod Charlie’s longest race so far, building on his two-length score in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in March at Fair Grounds that secured his spot in the Kentucky Derby.
“With the distance, I think it will suit him well,” O’Neill said. “He’s won going 1 3/16 in the Louisiana Derby. I think his gate speed and versatility will be an asset as well.”
Owned by Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Hot Rod Charlie will get a rematch against Essential Quality after running second to him in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile going 1 1/16 miles in November.He has matched or improved his Beyer numbers in each of his eight starts, compiling a 2-1-3 ledger.
“I credit his improvement this year with the owners’ patience. There’s been a lot of time given to him between races,” O’Neill said.
Prat, who rode Hot Rod Charlie in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness aboard Rombauer, will have the return call from post 4 at 7-2 odds. The last jockey to win two legs of the Triple Crown with different horses was Hall of Famer Calvin Borel in 2009 with Mine That Bird (Kentucky Derby) and Rachel Alexandra (Preakness).
“I’m super excited having Flavien back on him,” O’Neill said. “He knows ‘Charlie’ really well and their connection is strong.”
Pletcher, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer, will saddle three contenders as he seeks his fourth career Belmont score, having previously won the white carnations with Rags to Riches (2007), Palace Malice (2013), and Tapwrit (2017).
St. Elias Stable’s Known Agenda, ninth in the Kentucky Derby, has won going two turns, including a 2 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1) in March that preceded his Derby appearance. Known Agenda is looking to become the seventh horse to win both the Florida Derby and Belmont.
“I’m happy with him. His energy level has been super,” Pletcher said. “I like the way he’s handled the main track here so I’m looking forward to it.”
Known Agenda, the son of Hall of Famer Curlin, is 6-1 on the morning linefrom post 6.
Another Curlin-sired contender for Pletcher is Overtook, who is seeking his first stakes win after running second to Risk Taking in the Withers (G3) going 1 1/8 miles in February at Aqueduct. After running third in the Peter Pan (G3) – the traditional local Belmont Stakes prep - going the same distance May 8, Pletcher decided to give him a chance in the first Grade 1 appearance of his career.
Overtook, owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, was purchased for $1 million from the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He did not run in the prior two Triple Crown races but could have history on his side, as seven Belmont Stakes winners in the past 20 runnings had their picture taken without having ran in the Derby or Preakness.
Manny Franco, who won last year’s Belmont Stakes aboard New York-bred Tiz the Law, will look to be the first jockey to repeat in the Belmont since Laffit Pincay, Jr. won three consecutive Belmonts from 1982-84. Overtook, who drew post 8, is listed at 20-1.
Calumet Farm homebred Bourbonic ran 13th in the Kentucky Derby. The son of Bernardini won the Wood Memorial (G2) at record 72-1 odds in April at the Big A and aims to the be the first dual Wood Memorial-Belmont Stakes winner since Empire Maker in 2003.
“He’s bred well for it with Bernardini and the A.P. Indy sire line. A lot of Belmont history in his pedigree, so that helps,” Pletcher said.
Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for both the Wood Memorial and the Derby, will have the return assignment from post 1. Bourbonic has odds of 15-1.
“The Wood was a big step forward. That was his first try at a mile and an eighth,” Pletcher said. “Considering the way the Derby unfolded, there wasn’t too much changing of position, I thought he ran well that day.Kendrick said he was hard to pull up after the wire, so hopefully that indicates a mile and a half will be within his wheelhouse.”
Hronis Racing and David Michael Talla’s Rock Your World notched a Grade 1 win with a 4 1/4-length margin in the Santa Anita Derby in April in his main track debut, improving to 3-for-3 overall to start his career before running 17th in the Kentucky Derby last out.
Trainer John Sadler saw the Candy Ride colt win his debut on the turf on New Year’s Day at Santa Anita before also capturing the Pasadena over the same course in February. Sadler then switched Rock Your World to the dirt, where he will now attempt to give his conditioner his first Belmont winner with his second starter.
“We always thought the longer the better for him,” Sadler said. “When we went from six (furlongs) to a mile and a mile and an eighth we thought ‘oh boy.’ Then we ran in the Derby and obviously we got eliminated at the start. He’s come back and done real well since the Derby. We think he can run a long way. He’s got Candy Ride on top and with him being out of an Empire Maker mare, he’s got the stamina togothe distance.”
Joel Rosario, a two-time Belmont winner aboard Sir Winston in 2019 and Tonalist in 2015, will ride Rock Your World, breaking from post 7 at 9-2 odds.
Yuji Inaida’sFranceGodeInawill look to nab the $1 million bonus offered to the connections of any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont Stakes.
A two-time winner at Hanshin Racecourse, including a maiden score Nov. 28 and an allowance coup Dec. 19, trainer Hideyuki Mori moved him up in company, where he ran sixth in the UAE Derby (G2) before making his North American debut on the big stage with a seventh-place effort in the Preakness.
Ricardo Santana Jr. will rideFranceGodeIna(30-1) from post 5.
