Belmont Stakes Post Positions, Morning Line Odds

The Belmont Stakes is the true Test of a Champion, although this year the 1 1/2-mile race will not test a Kentucky Derby champion. After losing in the Preakness Stakes, Mage is out of Triple Crown contention, but there are plenty of familiar names from the Kentucky Derby traveling to Elmont, New York for Saturday’s running of the Belmont Stakes.

The final leg of the Triple Crown is the longest race of the three. One sire is built for distance and his progeny are being put to the test. Tapit, a horse KSR visited with this spring, has produced four Belmont Stakes winners. This year he has grand-sired multiple horses in the field, and has two direct descendants, Tapit Shoes and the second-choice, Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice.

A third of the Belmont Stakes’ 9-horse field raced in the Kentucky Derby, most notably third-place finisher Angel of Empire. Bob Baffert is also bringing his Preakness Stakes champion, National Treasure, to New York.

This will also serve as the return for Forte, the Kentucky Derby favorite that was scratched just hours before the race, a move that prevented Todd Pletcher’s horse from racing in the Preakness. Will it be a triumphant return for the former 2-year-old champion? We’ll find out at 6:50 pm EST Saturday on Fox.

Belmont Stakes Post Positions, Morning Line Odds

1. Tapit Shoes, 20-1, Jose Ortiz

2. Tapit Trice, 3-1, Luis Saez

3. Arcangelo, 8-1, Javier Castellano

4. National Treasure, 6-1, John Velasquez

5. Il Miracolo, 30-1, Marcos Meneses

6. Forte, 5-2, Irad Ortiz Jr.

7. Hit Show, Manny Franco, 10-1,

8. Angel of Empire, 7-2, Flavien Prat

9. Red Route One, 15-1, Joel Rasario

Happy Anniversary, American Pharoah

On this date in 2015, American Pharoah was finally the one. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, the horse of a lifetime snapped a 37-year Triple Crown drought by running away from the competition in the 147th Belmont Stakes. American Pharoah finished with a time of 2:26.65, second only to Secretariat among Triple Crown Champions.