Ever since that magical day in June 2018 when Justify became the 13th Triple Crown winner, there have been 17 Triple Crown races. There have also been 17 different 3-year-olds—including one filly—who have captured those American classics.
On June 8, when a historic edition of the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) will be contested at beloved Saratoga Race Course for the first time, we’ll find out if that lengthy drought will encompass a full six years.
A field of 10 was entered June 3 for the shorter-than-usual, mile-and-a-quarter Belmont at the Spa, including the winners of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), producing two chances for Triple Crown followers to again say, “Two out of three ain’t bad.” But morning-line favoritism falls on Derby runner-up Sierra Leone .
Derby winner Mystik Dan (5-1) landed post 3 and Preakness victor Seize the Grey (8-1) got the rail at the draw held Monday at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., kicking off what should be a highly festive celebration of Thoroughbred racing in a most popular setting. Aside from that matchup, for the first time in more than a decade the Belmont field will include the first- and second-place finishers from both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, adding to the excitement generated by the new surroundings in a town that embraces horse racing like no other.
“I think that the Belmont this year, you could make an argument for it being the best of the three (Triple Crown races),” said 88-year-old Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Seize the Grey. “I think that they have probably put together the best (field) of the three.”
Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm’s Mystik Dan could put himself in the driver’s seat for the 3-year-old male championship with a victory and and make it a great summer for trainer Kenny McPeek. A winner by a nose in the May 4 Run for the Roses and second by 2 1/4 lengths in the May 18 Preakness, he is the only 3-year-old entered in all three 2024 Triple Crown events. At the moment that consistency in the classics gives him a tenuous spot atop the division in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 10 3-Year-Old Poll.
“He’s showed that he’s a quality colt. It’s a fun ride and I hope it keeps going,” McPeek said. “The work (June 1) was super and we checked him real closely before we decided to go. We’re ready to give him another chance.”
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is scheduled to start from Post 3 in the Belmont Stakes
Sired by Goldencents out of the Colonel John mare Ma’am, Mystik Dan has won two of his five 2024 starts, also winning the Southwest Stakes (G3) and finishing third in the Arkansas Derby (G1). At Monday’s draw, McPeek said Gasaway had been pulling for Post 3 for the runner who has thrived racing inside.
MyRacehorse’s Seize the Grey posted a front-running victory on a muddy, sealed track at 9-1 odds but was likely a sentimental favorite. He gave the legendary Lukas his 15th Triple Crown victory, four of them in the Belmont.
The son of Arrogate bred by Jamm Ltd. would have also won the popular vote among connections that day. MyRacehorse had recruited 2,570 owners to purchase for $127 a 0.02% microshare of the $300,000 purchase at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s New York Sale of Preferred Yearlings.
The Preakness was a second straight win for Seize the Grey, who prevailed in the May 4 Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs.
“I couldn’t be more pleased, the way he’s responded to what we’re trying to do,” Lukas said. “He really has done well.”
2024 Preakness winner Seize the Grey and trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Saratoga
While the 156th Belmont Stakes can be viewed as a rematch between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners, considerable attention will be focused on Sierra Leone (9-5 favorite, post 9), who was second by a nose 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, N.Y., 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 stretch run. After moving into contention eight wide, the son of Gun Runner lugged in and bumped with Forever Young , who was rallying alongside him. At the wire, Mystik Dan held on by a desperate nose with Forever Young another nose back in one of the Kentucky Derby’s most exciting finishes.
The Derby marked a second career loss by a nose for the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner, who has prevailed in his other three starts. Last year, another eventful stretch battle led to his initial defeat in the Remsen Stakes. He passed Belmont Stakes entrant Dornoch (15-1, post 6) in mid-stretch and seemed headed to an easy win but lugged in, lost his momentum and the lead, as Dornoch battled back to win by a nose.
If not for a matter of inches and those gaffes in the stretch, Sierra Leone could be coming into the Belmont as undefeated.
“On paper, he’s the horse to beat. But you saw in the Derby, he may have been the best horse in some people’s eyes, but the best horse doesn’t always win,” said Brown, who will equip Sierra Leone with a different bit in hopes of helping him to maintain a straight course in the stretch. “That potentially could happen in the Belmont. The way this game works, the best horse doesn’t always win.”
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out three runners in a bid for his fifth Belmont Stakes win: Mindframe (post 10, 7-2), Protective (post 7, 20-1), and Antiquarian (post 5, 12-1).
“We’re excited about it,” said Pletcher. “It’s always great to come into these kinds of races with horses who are doing really well. Hopefully, we have enough talent to be competitive.”
Mindframe is undefeated in two starts for Repole Stable and the St. Elias Stable of Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola. He will be making his eagerly awaited stakes debut after the son of Constitution captured one-turn maiden and allowance races by a combined 21 1/4 lengths.
Mike Repole’s Protective (by Medaglia d’Oro ) is a maiden who finished third in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) and the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) in his past two starts.
Centennial Farms’ Antiquarian (by Preservationist ) is coming off a victory in the Peter Pan, the steppingstone prep for the Belmont. He is one of the starters whose connections would not have minded racing the traditional mile-and-a-half distance at Belmont Park, which is under construction and will not re-open until 2026 at the earliest.
“Talking to Todd and watching Antiquarian train over the winter, we wish it was a mile-and-a-half race, but I think the mile-and-a-quarter will be fine for him,” said Don Little Jr., president and co-owner of Centennial Farms. “We feel he’s ready.”
Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein’s Honor Marie (post 8, 12-1) was roughed up at the start of the Kentucky Derby and was 20th after six furlongs. Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) and second in the Louisiana Derby (G2), the Honor Code colt passed horses late to finish a troubled eighth.
“He stacks up with everyone in this division,” said trainer Whit Beckman, a former New York assistant for Brown and Pletcher. “Despite an absolutely brutal trip in the Kentucky Derby, he came out of the race in fantastic shape. He’s been training extremely well and we’re excited to give him the opportunity to run in the Belmont. I wish it was a mile-and-a-half but I think he’ll be just as good at a mile-and-a-quarter.”
The rest of the field includes Wood Memorial winner Resilience (post 2, 10-1), an Into Mischief colt who was sixth in the Kentucky Derby; Dornoch, a full brother to 2023 Derby winner Mage by Good Magic who had a rough trip when 10th in the Derby; and The Wine Steward (post 4, 15-1), a New York-bred son of Vino Rosso who was second in the Peter Pan.
Belmont Stakes
Post, Horse, Morning-Line Odds
1. Seize the Grey, 8-1
2. Resilience, 10-1
3. Mystik Dan, 5-1
4. The Wine Steward, 15-1
5. Antiquarian, 12-1
6. Dornoch, 15-1
7. Protective, 20-1
8. Honor Marie, 12-1
9. Sierra Leone, 9-5
10. Mindframe, 7-2
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