New And Old Foes Ready For Exaggerator in $1.5 Million Belmont Stakes

Category :: News

The field for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) is beginning to take shape and Exaggerator, the winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1) will be facing several familiar rivals as well as some fresh contenders. The Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown, will be run on Saturday, June 11.

Exaggerator is one of only two horses in the prospective field who will have competed in all three Triple Crown races. The other is Lani, the Japanese-based colt with an international resume and a quirky personality. Exaggerator, after finishing second to Nyquist in the Kentucky Derby (G1) , came back to defeat the champion in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course over a sloppy track. He has been training at Belmont Park since then for trainer Keith Desormeaux.

Several horses rested since Kentucky Derby

Several horses who competed in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but elected to skip the Preakness Stakes (G1) will be back for the Belmont Stakes (G1) including Suddenbreakingnews, Brody’s Cause and Destin. Suddenbreakingnews finished fifth in the Run for the Roses and since that race, it was discovered that he was not a gelding as reported but actually a ridgling. Destin, one of two contenders in the Belmont trained by Todd Pletcher, recently clocked a half-mile workout at Belmont Park in :49.56.

Preakness Stakes also-rans back for another try

Also heading towards the Belmont Stakes (G1) for Pletcher is Stradivari, the lightly-raced colt who finished fourth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) in his graded stakes debut. Prior to the Preakness, he had two impressive victories and has been training at Belmont Park with John Velazquez in the irons Another horse who competed in the Preakness who will be back for another try against Exaggerator is Cherry Wine, the runner-up for trainer Dale Romans who will also saddle Brody’s Cause.