We are less than a month away from the Belmont Stakes, which is in the unfamiliar position of kicking off horse racing’s Triple Crown. This year’s running takes place on Saturday, June 20, and the race itself will be different from previous editions.
Instead of the traditional 1 1/2-mile affair, the track has been shortened to 1 1/8 miles. As you would expect, speculation is running rampant on how the field may shake out.
A number of clues are beginning to emerge on that front, including courtesy of this post on
Horse Racing Nation.
Thanks to the condition book, parameters to run in the Belmont Stakes are explained below in the event that more than 16 horses are entered:
• The first eight starters will be given preference based on earnings in graded stakes at a mile or longer.
• The next five starters will line up according to non-restricted stakes earnings regardless of the distance. That essentially excludes state-bred company.
• The book specifically reads, however, that qualifying races under this condition offer no restrictions “other than age or sex.” Would connections of a 3-year-old female be more apt to take on the Belmont in 2020, when it measures 1 1/8 miles around one turn?
• So that s for 13 positions. If the race oversubscribes, the final three starters would be determined by the “Belmont Stakes Selection Committee.” That group is undefined but would assuredly be tasked with choosing the trio of horses that make the Belmont the strongest field possible.
It remains unclear exactly how large the field will be for the Belmont. For the Kentucky Derby, the traditional first leg of the Triple Crown, 20 runners is a common occurrence. As of now, the New York Racing Association has pointed to nine probable starters. Here’s a quick look at each.
Basin
Owner: Jackpot Farms
Trainer: Steven Asmussen
Earnings: $392,500
Derby Points: 11th, 50
Signature Finish: 2nd, Arkansas Derby
Charlatan
Owner: Several
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Earnings: $300,000
Derby Points: 4th, 100
Signature Finish: 1st, Arkansas Derby
Farmington Road
Owner: Several
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Earnings: $81,000
Derby Points: 27th, 15
Signature Finish: 4th, Arkansas Derby
Gouvernour Morris
Owner: Several
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Earnings: $186,000
Derby Points: 14th, 34
Signature Finish: 2nd, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity
Max Player
Owner: George E. Hall
Trainer: Linda Rice
Earnings: $137,500
Derby Points: 37th, 10
Signature Finish: 1st, Withers Stakes
Modernist
Owner: Wygod, Parn, and Martin
Trainer: William Mott
Earnings: $340,000
Derby Points: 7th, 70
Signature Finish: 1st, Risen Star Stakes
Nadal
Owner: Several
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Earnings: $1,020,000
Derby Points: 1st, 150
Signature Finish: 1st, Arkansas Derby
Sole Volante
Owner: Several
Trainer: Patrick Biancone
Earnings: $173,510
Derby Points: 17th 30
Signature Finish: 1st, Sam F. Davis Stakes
Tiz the Law
Owner: Sackatoga Stable
Trainer: Barclay Tagg
Earnings: $902,400
Derby Points: 2nd, 122
Signature Finish: 1st, Curlin Florida Derby
The NYRA lists the following trio of horses as possible starters for the Belmont.
Maxfield
Owner: Godolphin, LLC
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Earnings: $388,350
Derby Points: 9th, 60
Signature Finish: 1st, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity
Ny Traffic
Owner: Several
Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.
Earnings: $272.820
Derby Points: 8th, 70
Signature Finish: 2nd, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby
Shivaree
Owner: Jacks or Better Farm, Inc.
Trainer: Ralph Nicks
Earnings: $284,505
Derby Points: 13th, 40
Signature Finish: 2nd, Curlin Florida Derby
That’s an even dozen potential runners for the time being, but we can expect more clarity to emerge in the coming days and weeks.
The condensed Belmont Park meet is set to begin on Wednesday, June 3rd and run for 25 racing days through Sunday, July 12. You can take a peek at the scheduled stakes races by clicking here.
