Expert Picks: Who Will Win the Belmont Stakes?
The New York Times Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert assess the contenders for the 155th Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
National Treasure, coming off a victory in the Preakness Stakes on May 20, will try to add another leg of the Triple Crown to his rsum with a win in the 155th Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
The Kentucky Derby winner, Mage, will not stand in his way; he is skipping the Belmont after finishing third in the Preakness. But Forte, the Derby favorite who was scratched the morning of the race with a foot bruise, is back and considered a strong contender.
The Belmont horses are listed in order of post position, with comments by Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert of The New York Times. The morning-line odds were set by David Aragona of the New York Racing Association.
Purse: $1.5 million guaranteed Distance: 1 miles
Track record: 2:24 (Secretariat, 1973)
Weight: 126 pounds
Post time: 7:02 p.m. Eastern on Saturday
How to watch: Coverage begins on Fox at 3 p.m. Eastern.
