Since that magical day in June 2018 when justification became the 13th Triple Crown winner, having had 17 Triple Crown races. There were also 17 different 3-year-olds — including one chubby — who got to grips with those American classics.
On June 8, when the historic $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) will be contested among the favorites. Saratoga Race Course For the first time, we’ll find out whether that extended drought will last the full six years.
A field of 10 entered June 3 for the shorter-than-normal, one-and-a-half-mile Belmont at Spa, included winners of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), creating two chances for the Triple H According to the crown, “Two-thirds is not bad.” But the morning bias falls on the Derby runner-up Sierra Leone .
Derby winner Mystik Dan (5-1) took 3 and won the Preakness Embrace the gray (8-1) won the drawing held Monday at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, NY, kicking off a highly festive celebration of Thoroughbred racing in a most popular. In addition to that match, for the first time in more than a decade, the Belmont field will include first- and second-place finishers from both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, adding to the excitement created by the environment. New surroundings in a town that embraces horse racing like no other.
“I think this year’s Belmont, you could argue it’s the best of the three (Triple Crown races),” said 88-year-old Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Seize the Gray. “I think they probably assembled the best (field) of the three.”
Valley View Farm’s Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III and Mystik Dan can steer themselves to the 3-year-old boys’ championship with a win and make this a great summer for trainer Kenny McPeek. A nose winner in the May 4 Race for the Roses and second by 2 1/4 lengths in the May 18 Preakness, he was the only 3-year-old to compete in all three events. Triple Crown event in 2024. For now, his consistency in the classics keeps him in a slim position at the top of the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 10 3-Year-Old Poll .
“He has proven that he is a quality colt,” McPeek said. It’s been a fun ride and I hope it continues.” “The (June 1) job was great and we vetted him thoroughly before deciding to go. We’re ready to give him another chance.”
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is scheduled to start Post 3 in the Belmont Stakes
Selected by gold money Out of Col. John mare Ma’am, Mystik Dan has won two of five 2024 starts, while also winning the Southwest Stakes (G3) and finishing third in the Arkansas Derby (G1). At Monday’s draw, McPeek said Gasaway won the 3rd Place runner-up who thrived on the inside race.
MyRacehorse’s Seize the Gray took the lead win on a muddy, tight track at 9-1 odds but could be a sentimental favourite. He gave the legendary Lukas his 15th Triple Crown victory, four of which were at Belmont.
Son of Arrogate by Jamm Ltd. crossbreeding will also win the popular vote among the relations that day. MyRacehorse recruited 2,570 owners to buy for $127 a fraction 0.02% of a $300,000 purchase at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s New York Sale of Preferred Yearlings.
The Preakness was the second straight win for Seize the Gray, who won the May 4 Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with how he responded to what we were trying to do,” Lukas said. “He really did very well.”
2024 Preakness winner Seize the Gray and trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Saratoga
Although the 156th Belmont Stakes may be considered a rematch between the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, significant attention will be focused on Sierra Leone (9-5 favorite, post 9), who finished second to Mystik Dan in the Derby. Owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith, Sierra Leone is trained by four-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, who grew up in nearby Mechanicville, NY and has won or shared five of the past six training titles at the Saratoga meet.
The $2.3 million purchase at The Saratoga Sale rallied from 17th in the 20-horse Derby field and had an eventful run. After moving into the eight-wide dispute, the son of Gun Runner pulled in and collided with Youth forever , who is gathering with him. At the top, Mystik Dan held on with a desperate charge and Forever Young pulled off one of the most exciting finishes of the Kentucky Derby.
The Derby marked the second career loss for the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner, who has been dominant in three other starts. Last year, another tense battle led to his first defeat in the Remsen Stakes. He edged the Belmont Stakes entrant Dornoch (15-1, card 6) at midway through the period and seemed headed for an easy win but were pulled in, losing momentum and the lead, as Dornoch fought back to win by a margin.
If it weren’t for the inches and those mistakes, Sierra Leone could have gone to Belmont undefeated.
“On paper, he is the horse to beat,” said Brown, who will arm Sierra Leone with a gun. But you saw in the Derby, he might be the best horse in some people’s eyes, but the best horse doesn’t always win.” a little difference in the hope of helping him maintain a straight course down the stretch. “It could happen at Belmont. The way this game works, the best horse doesn’t always win.”
Connections and fans gather June 3 at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, NY for the Belmont Stakes drawing
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send three runners to his fifth Belmont Stakes win: Mind frame (lesson 10, 7-2), protect (lesson 7, 20-1), and antique (lesson 5, 12-1).
“We’re very excited about it,” Pletcher said. “It’s great to be in races like this with horses that are running really well. Hopefully we have enough talent to be competitive.”
Mindframe are undefeated in their two starts for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable by Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola. He will make his much anticipated stake debut after the son of Structure caught the first races and allowance a turn for a total of 21 1/4 lengths.
Mike Repole’s Guardian (by Medaglia d’Oro ) is a filly who has finished third in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) and Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) in her past two starts.
Centennial Farm Antiques (by Conservationists ) is about to win Peter Pan, a stepping stone in preparation for Belmont. He’s one of those starters whose connections wouldn’t mind racing the traditional mile and a half distance at Belmont Parkis under construction and will not reopen until 2026 at the earliest.
Don Little Jr. “Talking to Todd and looking at the Antiquarian train during the winter, we wished it was a mile and a half race, but I think a mile and a half would suit him,” said. President and co-owner of Centennial Farms. “We feel he is ready.”
Ribble Farm, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein and Dave Fishbein’s Honor Marie (post 8, 12-1) struggled at the start of the Kentucky Derby and finished 20th six furlongs. Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and runner-up in the Louisiana Derby (G2), Honor code The colt overtook the horse late to finish a difficult eighth place.
“He ranks right up there with everyone in this division,” said coach Whit Beckman, a former assistant under Brown and Pletcher in New York. “Despite an extremely brutal outing in the Kentucky Derby, he came out of the race in great form. He has trained extremely well and we are delighted to give him the opportunity to run in Belmont. I wish it was a mile-and-a-half but I think he’d be good at a mile-and-a-half too.”
The rest of the field included the Wood Memorial winner resilience (lesson 2, 10-1), one into mischief The colt finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby; Dornoch, full brother to the 2023 Derby winner magician via Good magic who had a difficult trip finishing 10th in the Derby; And Wine manager (track 4, 15-1), son of a New Yorker Vino Rosso the second runner-up in Peter Pan.
Item: Belmont S. Presented by NYRA Bets (G1)
Saratoga Race CourseSaturday, June 8, 2024, Stage 12
- Class I
- 1 1/4m
- Dust
- 2,000,000 USD
- 3 years old
- 6:41 pm (local)
