We are just over a week apart from the $1.5-million Belmont Stakes (G1) and the potential field for the third jewel of the Triple Crown stands at nine.
The most recent defection is Preakness (G1) third-place finisher Owendale, who will skip the race and stage toward the Ohio Derby (G3) on June 22.
There is no Triple Crown hanging in the balance, but the race is coming up with a competitive field and is just one of 18 stakes races which are going to be contested during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival from June 6-8.
Here is an early look at the area with Belmont Stakes gambling odds Supplied by BetOnline:
Tacitus +175
The colt is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who won his first Kentucky Derby (G1) this season with Country House because of the disqualification of Maximum Security. Tacitus rallied to finish fourth beaten 31/4 lengths in the Derby and was placed next. The colt won his two previous starts, taking the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and the Wood Memorial (G2).
War of Will +250
The Mark Casse trainee took the brunt of this interference in the Kentucky Derby where he weakened to complete eighth (put seventh). He slipped back with a big effort at the Preakness (G1), coming up the interior to score by 11/4 lengths and return $14.20.
Master Fencer +700
The Japanese runner produced a buzz on Wednesday after carrying an embarrassing measure and stumbling through a morning workout. The barn gave the colt a fantastic once-over following the episode and gave him the all-clear for the race. He will gallop again on Friday. He made his U.S. debut at the Kentucky Derby in +5800 where he made a mild late run to finish seventh and was placed first. He was just beaten four lengths and if he looks great in the evenings during the next weekhe could be the”wise guy” play in the Belmont.
Everfast +800
This is another colt that outran his chances in his last outing. The Dale Romans trainee had been shipped off at +2900 in the Preakness where he was 20 lengths behind early and came with a good late rally to complete in the runner-up spot beaten 11/4 spans for the top spot. The colt was beaten with a combined 43 spans in his three prized starts. He’d show some promise early this season when he ran second in the Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park and seems back on track.
Intrepid Heart +1200
The Todd Pletcher trainee makes his first start in a Triple Crown race. After winning his first two starts he made his stakes debut in the Peter Pan (G3) on the Belmont Park main track. The colt came out of the gate, stalked the early pace and didn’t have sufficient punch left late in a third-place finish. This colt still appears to possess some upside down and Pletcher has won the Belmont three occasions, the latest with Tapwrit in 2017.
Spinoff +1200
Also trained by Pletcher, the colt came to the Kentucky Derby off a solid runner-up finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. He was dismissed from the Run for the Roses in +5200 and did not reveal much, racing wide throughout and fading to finish a well-beaten 18th. The colt has a long-widened pedigree and the truth Pletcher brings him back here points for this colt revealing more than he did in Louisville.
Tax +1200
The Belmont Park-based Legislation has done his very best running in New York, winning the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct back in February and running second in the Wood Memorial. The colt was not a factor from the Kentucky Derby, checking in 15 lengths behind the winner in a 14th-place finish. Trainer Danny Gargan promised him $50,000 in his second career start at Keeneland in his eponymous breaker, and it has won $277,500 together with him this year.
Sir Winston +1600
Founded by Casse, who’ll also send out War of Will, this colt is coming off a strong second in the Peter Pan in Belmont Park in his final outing. The colt went down the Road to the Kentucky Derby without much success, assessing in fifth at the Tampa Bay Derby and seventh in the Blue Grass. His last effort was his best, but he figures to be among the greatest prices in the field.
Joevia +2500
The Greg Sacco trainee showed some promise breaking his maiden in his debut and then running second from the Jimmy Winkfield in Aqueduct and the Private Terms at Laurel Park. He received his opportunity to stamp his ticket to the Derby in the Wood Memorial but came up short, checking in 11th. He bounced back with a victory from the Long Branch at Monmouth Park on May 12. The colt spent the winter working over the Belmont Park face along with his connections think he’s going in the right path, but he needs to step his game up more for a element in this race.
Handicapper Michael Dempsey will soon be covering the Triple Crown for Odds Shark and his full card reports with selections, analysis, fair odds line and wagering recommendations for important buys are available each day at turfnsport.com.

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