The final leg of the U.S. Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes takes center-stage on Saturday evening at Belmont Park in New York state, with eight runners going to post for the 12-furlong event.
Run on the dirt, two horses this century, American Pharoah and Justify have completed the historic feat of winning the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont.
However, racing fans will have to wait till next year to see if more Triple Crown history can be made, with none of the eight runners on the cusp of history.
Despite that, this year's $1.5 million contest looks ultra-competitive and we have previewed the 153rd running which you can watch live on NBC this weekend, using odds from leading oddsmaker Betway.
Belmont Stakes field and betting odds
The 2/1 favourite for the Belmont is Essential Quality who lost his unbeaten record when failing to justify favouritism in the Kentucky Derby behind controversial winner Medina Spirit in May at Churchill Downs. The three-year-old had previously won his first five starts over distances ranging from six to nine furlongs.
Owned by Godolphin and trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality ran well in the Kentucky Derby, but he did not look a natural stayer which raises question marks for his suitability over this 12-furlong trip.
Rombauer (9/4) has progressed in good style this term, scoring at Golden Gate Fields in February, before chasing home Essential Quality at Keeneland in April. He has five and three-quarter lengths to find with that rival, but the son of Twirling Candy was impressive when recording a first Grade One win in the Preakness where stamina looked to be his forte. He needs to build on that run after only a two week break, but he remains a fascinating runner.
Hot Rod Charlie (4/1) is one of the most interesting runners in the race. The three-year-old shaped with plenty of promise when third in the Kentucky Derby and he has a month break following that effort. It could be crucial that he has that extra time off the track and whilst his breeding also suggests this 12-furlong trip could stretch him, he cannot be overlooked.
Rock Your World (6/1) had looked a potential player coming into the Kentucky Derby having won his first three career starts. However, the Candy Ride colt never landed a blow under Joel Rosario and is on a retrieval mission here following that 17th placed effort. Similarly, Known Agenda (7/1) was only ninth in the same event and there are Concerns regarding whether he will relish this step up in trip.
Bourbonic was 13th in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs and given his odds of 25/1, he looks to have a mountain to climb. The eight runners are completed by Overtook (25/1) who steps up in grade following a third-placed effort in Grade Three company at Belmont last month and 33/1 France Go De Ina who was a well-beaten seventh in the Preakness Stakes.
Big-race verdict
The key question, as is usually the case with the Belmont as the final leg of the Triple Crown is stamina. All eight runners in the field are unproven over 12 furlongs and market leader Essential Quality has not shaped like a certain stayer at this trip.
He undoubtedly is the class horse in this field and should be relatively fresh for this assignment and therefore cannot be ignored. Rombauer was a surprise winner of the Preakness and the manner in which he stayed on suggests that he might be the one to relish this step up in distance.
At bigger prices, Rock Your World remains open to more improvement despite disappointing last time in the Kentucky Derby and it is too early to be writing him off. Judging by the betting, only five of the field look to have strong claims of winning the event and Rombauer, given his solid profile, makes the most appeal in the Belmont Stakes.
Win Selection: Rombauer 9/4
***Belmont Stakes odds and analysis from Betway. For more, see their horse racing betting page HERE***
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
