An inside look at how the 153rd Belmont Stakes will shape up:
1. Bourbonic (15-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
Current Form: Won the watered-down Wood Memorial at 72-1. Saved ground riding the rail in the Derby but still finished a back-to-earth 13th.
Worth a Play? Proved all the naysayers right. Critical of the quality in the Wood field, he never factored facing better. Closer should save ground again, but runs home an invisible sixth.
2. Essential Quality (2-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Current Form: The Blue Grass winner took a perfect five-for-five record to Churchill Downs and missed by an unfortunate length after a compromised trip.
Worth a Play? Ironically, he may have run his best race picking up his first loss. Traveled wide, took a bump, still managed to get within a length of the winner, who may not be the winner for long. Skipped the Preakness to win here. We have him second.
3. Rombauer (3-1)
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: John Velazquez
Current Form: Ran third to Essential Quality in the Blue Grass. Better equipped for rematch after powering past Midnight Bourbon to take the Preakness.
Worth a Play? After the controversial Derby, it was comforting to see humble trainer Michael McCarthy in the winner’s circle. Impressive closing from off the pace at speed-favoring Pimlico. Gets a new rider (John Velazquez), gets the distance, gets up for third.
4. Hot Rod Charlie (7-2)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Current Form: Stamped a serious player after navigating the 1 ¹/₄ miles to win the Louisiana Derby on the front end. Got free after traffic delays in the Derby and finished a length back of Medina Spirit.
Worth a Play? Flavien Prat took off Rombauer to ride “Charlie” for Doug O’Neill. Figures to be on or near the pace-setting Rock Your World. Figures to leave him when given his cue, then hold off the host of closers. Winner.
5. France Go De Ina (30-1)
Trainer: Hideyuki Mori
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Current Form: Made his U.S. debut in the Preakness. Got a couple of early calls before reporting home an empty seventh of 10. Went 2-for-4 overseas prior.
Worth a Play? Good start, poor finish. Stopped at Pimlico when Rombauer started to roll. Would be surprised if he gets a share going longer. Last of eight.
6. Known Agenda (6-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Current Form: Florida Derby winner made the best of a bad situation at Kentucky. Never the fastest from the gate, he drew the dreaded rail, got buried and ran home a vanilla ninth.
Worth a Play? Todd Pletcher knows how to win the Test of Champions. He has three entered and this is his best chance. Slow starter will have to win from just off the pace. We have him finishing a flat fifth.
7. Rock Your World (9-2)
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Current Form: Speedy colt won the Santa Anita Derby handily, leading at every call. Perfect through three, his Run for the Roses fell apart when he missed the break and got parked wide around the clubhouse turn.
Worth a Play? They will all be chasing the only true rabbit in the field and jockey Joel Rosario may have it his way on the lead. Dangerous if he’s allowed to dictate, but “Hot Rod” won’t let him get far. A fading fourth.
Overtook (20-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Manuel Franco
Current Form: Still has only one win … and it was at a mile. Placed second in the Withers and then third in the Peter Pan.
Worth a Play? Not sure he would be seriously considered even if he flew home first in the Peter Pan. Not sure if he should be flying here either. Connections are there: Pletcher. Repole. Franco. Curlin. But he won’t be. Not last, seventh.