2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders: Official Entries & Top Horses to Watch in 2023
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Last updated: July 10, 2023 at 4:59 p.m. EDT
The Belmont Stakes is the third and final jewel of U.S. Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. Also the oldest of the three, dating back to 1867, and the longest at 1 1/2 miles, the "Test of the Champion" has tremendous buzz when the Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner seeks an historic Triple Crown sweep. Below is a sneak preview of the contenders for the 2022 Belmont Stakes from TwinSpires, as well as info from previous runnings.
Belmont Stakes Contenders 2023
| Post Position | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|
1 | Tapit Shoes | 20-1 | Jose Ortiz | Brad Cox |
2 | Tapit Trice | 3-1 | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher |
3 | Arcangelo | 8-1 | Javier Castellano | Jena Antonucci |
4 | National Treasure | 5-1 | John Velazquez | Tim Yakteen |
5 | Il Miracolo | 30-1 | Marcos Meneses | Antonio Sano |
6 | Forte | 5-1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Todd Pletcher |
7 | Hit Show | 10-1 | Manny Franco | Brad Cox |
8 | Angel of Empire | 7-2 | Flavien Prat | Brad Cox |
9 | Red Route One | 15-1 | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen |
The 2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders
ANGEL OF EMPIRE | HIT SHOW | TAPIT TRICE | NATIONAL TREASURE | RED ROUTE ONE | FORTE | ARCANGELO | IL MIRACOLO | TAPIT SHOES
Past Contenders
Kentucky Derby Alumni
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Angel of Empire
Arkansas Derby (G1) and Risen Star (G2) hero was a hard-charging third as the post-time favorite in the Kentucky Derby.
Pedigree: Classic Empire-Armony’s Angel, by To Honor and Serve
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Owner: Gary & Mary West
Hit Show
Withers (G3) romper and Wood Memorial (G2) near-misser was a solid fifth in the Derby.
Pedigree: Candy Ride-Actress, by Tapit
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Manny Franco
Owner: Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable
Tapit Trice
Blue Grass (G1) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner churned on for seventh after a typically sluggish start in the Derby.
Pedigree: Tapit-Danzatrice, by Dunkirk
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Preakness Stakes Alumni
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al
National Treasure
Blinkers back on did the trick in his stakes breakthrough in the Preakness, where he controlled the pace and battled gamely.
Pedigree: Quality Road-Treasure, by Medaglia d’Oro
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: John Velazquez
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Red Route One
Bath House Row S. winner, previously a bridesmaid on the Derby trail, wound up fourth in a Preakness that did not set up for his late kick.
Pedigree: Gun Runner-Red House, by Tapit
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Newcomers
Owner: Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable
Forte
Champion juvenile extended his winning streak in the Florida Derby, but fitness could be a question since his scratch from the Kentucky Derby.
Pedigree: Violence-Queen Caroline, by Blame
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Owner: Blue Rose Farm
Arcangelo
Late bloomer stepped up from his maiden win to take the Peter Pan (G3).
Pedigree: Arrogate-Modeling, by Tapit
Trainer: Jena Antonucci
Jockey: Javier Castellano
The 2022 Belmont Stakes Contenders
Mo Donegal
- Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Owner: Donegal Racing and Repole Stable
- Odds: +225
We the People
- Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- Owner: Bobby Flay, WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH, Siena Farm
- Odds: +350
Rich Strike
- Trainer: Eric Reed
- Jockey: Sonny Leon
- Owner: RED TR-Racing
- Odds: +450
Creative Minister
- Trainer: Kenny McPeek
- Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
- Owner: Fern Circle Stables, Back Racing, LLC & Magdalena Racing
- Odds: +650
Nest
- Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Owner: Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House
- Odds: +650
Ethereal Road
- Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
- Jockey: Luis Saez
- Owner: Aaron Sones
- Odds: 10-1
Barber Road
- Trainer: Johnny Ortiz
- Jockey: Rey Gutierrez
- Owner: WSS Racing, LLC
- Odds: 14-1
Skippylongstocking
- Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
- Jockey: Júnior Alvarado
- Owner: Daniel Alonso
- Odds: 14-1
Golden Glider
- Trainer: Mark Casse
- Jockey: Dylan Davis
- Owner: Gary Barber, Manfred Conrad, and Penny Conrad
- Odds: 22-1
Kuchar
- Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
- Jockey: Florent Géeroux
- Owner: WinStar Farm LLC and Siena Farm LLC
- Odds: 22-1
Howling Time
- Trainer: Dale Romans
- Jockey: Joe Talamo
- Owner: Albaugh Family Stables LLC
- Odds: 25-1
The 2021 Belmont Stakes Contenders
PRO: Derby didn’t set up well for Wood Memorial hero; both wins have come in New York
CON: Late runner faces tactical disadvantage in Belmont; owns lower Brisnet Speed ratings
PRO: Rough break, wide trip cost him in Derby; once-beaten colt can make amends Saturday
CON: Grinder must establish trip from inside post; Brisnet numbers on-par with other rivals
PRO: Became more effective racing closer to pace in last two; stylishly rallied to win Preakness
CON: His races have been well-spaced, must avoid regression on three-week turnaround
PRO: Missed by only a length in Derby; Louisiana Derby winner may have more to offer for O’Neill
CON: Lone stakes win came wire-to-wire; thrice stakes-placed colt often grabs a minor award
PRO: Japanese-based colt showed tactical speed in Preakness, needed race from fitness perspective
CON: Weakening seventh at Pimlico does not inspir e confidence; unplaced in both stakes attempts
PRO: Compromised by innermost post in Derby; 1 1/2-mile distance appears optimal for promising colt
CON: Beat suspect field in Florida Derby; is he fast enough yet to de feat this level of competition?
PRO: Missed break, draw a line through Derby; serious wire-to-wire threat as possible lone speed
CON: Had everything own way in Santa Anita Derby; questions surround him at 1 1/2-mile trip
PRO: $1 million Curlin colt needed last race after layoff; sneaky vertical exotics contender for Pletcher
CON: Late-running style doesn’t appear favorable; his Brisnet Speed ratings must improve to challenge
Below are the official Belmont Stakes contenders for 2021:
| (POST) HORSE | TRAINER / JOCKEY | OFFICIAL ML ODDS |
|---|
(1) We the People | Rodolphe Brisset / Flavien Prat | 2-1 |
(2) Skippylongstocking | Saffie Joseph Jr. / Manny Franko | 20-1 |
(3) Nest | Todd Pletcher / Jose Ortiz | 8-1 |
(4) Rich Strike | Eric Reed / Sonny Leon | 7-2 |
(5) Creative Minister | Ken McPeek / Brian Hernandez Jr. | 6-1 |
(6) Mo Donegal | Todd Pletcher / Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 5-12 |
(7) Golden Glider | Mark Casse / Dylan Davis | 20-1 |
(8) Barber Road | John Ortiz / Joel Rosario | 10-1 |
Most of the Belmont contenders have competed in at least one, or sometimes both, of the prior Triple Crown races. Fans who have been watching the three-year-olds progress throughout the early-season preps -- such as the Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass, and Arkansas Derby -- will know the major players very well.
But even fans who just tuned in for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness will recognize familiar names. If the Derby winner has gone on to glory in the Preakness, that two-time classic winner heads to Belmont Park on the cusp of immortality, with a Triple Crown on the line. If he was beaten in the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes could serve as a decisive showdown between the Derby and Preakness winners.
With trainers preferring to give their horses more time between races, some who ran in the Derby opt to skip the Preakness and go straight to the Belmont. Such a five-week break can give them a freshness advantage over those enduring the entire Triple Crown grind.