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2018 Belmont Stakes Entries

Date: 06/05/2018

This year, the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, celebrating its 150th renewal, will again have a horse going for the Triple Crown, with Justify winning both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He will attempt to become only the second undefeated horse, Seattle Slew being the first, to win the Triple Crown. Only two other horses from the Preakness, Bravazo and Tenfold, entered to take him on in the Belmont along with four back from the Derby and three just now joining the Triple Crown battle.

Belmont Poll
Who will win the 2018 Belmont?

Bravazo
Blended Citizen
Free Drop Billy
Gronkowski
Hofburg
Justify
Noble Indy
Restoring Hope
Tenfold
Vino Rosso

The Bob Baffert trained Justify drew the rail for Saturday's 1 1/2 mile Test of the Champion and is the 4-5 favorite on the morning line with regular rider Mike Smith aboard. In to challenge him in the field of 10 include 9-2 second choice Hofburg out of post 4, winless since breaking his maiden in March before finishing 2nd in the Florida Derby and 7th in the Kentucky Derby. Regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. retains the mount for trainer Bill Mott. Two horses are 8-1 third choice on the morning line, with the rest of the field at double digits. Preakness runner-up Bravazo drew post 3, with Luis Saez in the irons for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, while Wood Memorial winner and Derby 9th place finisher Vino Rosso and regular rider John Velazquez break from the 8 hole for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Baffert said of Justify's chances out of post 1, "I never do like to draw the rail, but my horses seem to live in it. But I just feel that -- I think most importantly is that the horse is doing well, and last year, I mean, the last time I went through this, American Pharoah, he stepped back right when they opened, and he was actually -- didn't leave with them, and I got lucky that he got away from there. You can have a great hole, but if you don't leave there, you're still going to be in trouble. We have it, we can't change it, so we're just -- you just deal with it."

Lukas said of Bravazo, "I think it would be a really big mistake to feel that maybe Justify isn't on his game. I think he's really on his game. My horse is on his game. He's playing well. He's doing well. The 3 horse, not bad. I think he's a good gate horse. We'll be okay. We'll lead you out of it, and Bob and I will go on with it."

Todd Pletcher said of Vino Rosso and Noble Indy (post 9, 30-1) said, "We didn't feel like it was hugely important where we drew. Both of them run towards the outside, which is fine. I think Noble Indy is going to need to show a little bit of speed and get into the flow of the race, and Vino Rosso, we're expecting him to hopefully find a good rhythm, and he doesn't mind being on the outside, so you don't want to lose too much ground around there, but post position-wise, I think it's fine. I don't know, Bob may be a little nervous about drawing the 1 if he doesn't break great, but so far the horse has been perfect, so it's hard to find any weaknesses."

Dale Romans, trainer of Free Drop Billy (post 2, 30-1) said, "The 2 post is a lot better in the Belmont than it is in the Kentucky Derby, and the horse is doing super. But I do want to point out there, Bob Baffert is only 25 percent when going for Triple Crowns."

Live television coverage will be provided from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on NBC Sports Network and 4:00-7:00 p.m. on NBC, with post time for the Belmont Stakes carded as Race 11, going to post at 6:46 p.m. All times are Eastern time zone. Free past performances are available here from BRISnet.

Be sure to click the link on each horse's name to view full info, stats, and a photo.

PostHorseTrainerDosageJockeyM/L Odds
1JustifyBob Baffert3.00 Mike Smith4-5
2Free Drop BillyDale Romans1.74 *Robby Albarado30-1
3BravazoD. Wayne Lukas2.75 Luis Saez8-1
4HofburgBill Mott2.78 Irad Ortiz Jr.9-2
5Restoring HopeBob Baffert1.72 Florent Geroux30-1
6GronkowskiChad Brown3.00 Jose Ortiz12-1
7TenfoldSteve Asmussen3.00 Ricardo Santana Jr.12-1
8Vino RossoTodd Pletcher3.57 John Velazquez8-1
9Noble IndyTodd Pletcher3.00 Javier Castellano30-1
10Blended CitizenDoug O'Neill3.00 *Kyle Frey30-1
Note: All horses will carry 126 lbs.

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