Saturday's Belmont Stakes at Big Sandy, 2023 Edition

 Nine 3-year-old colts will face each other (if there are no scratches) in the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, 10 June 2023.  Each colt will carry 126 pounds once around the 1 and 1/2 mile oval of "Big Sandy," which is also known as the Graveyard of Champions after several champion horses were defeated there by relative unknowns (ie: Onion beat Secretariat).  The 3-year-olds will be making the longest race in their life, and probably for their entire racing career.  The race is a full mile and a half (12 furlongs), and has a purse of $1,500,000.  Post time is scheduled for 6:50 EDT (4:50 MDT).
Forte is the early betting favorite for the Belmont

  Mage, who won the Kentucky Derby and finished third in the Preakness, is not running in the Belmont.  Of the nine horses in Saturday's field, 3 ran in the Derby and 2 ran in the Preakness.  None of them ran in both of the first legs of the Triple Crown.  Angel of Empire finished 3rd in the Derby, Hit Show was 5th, and Tapit Trice was 7th.  In the Preakness, National Treasure won, and Red Route One was 4th.  Forte, who was the early betting favorite for the Derby, was scratched the day before the race due to a bruised foot; he was not approved by the veterinarians to run in the Preakness, but he's been OK'd to run in the Belmont.
National Treasure, winner of the Preakness, is the early 4th choice in betting

  Here are my usual (odd-ball) observations:  All runners are Kentucky-bred, with the exception of Angel of Empire, who was bred in Pennsylvania.  Angel of Empire also has an equipment change - he will wear blinkers for the Belmont.  The 9 horse field is split evenly among coat colors, with 3 each of bay, chestnut and gray/roan.  the 9 entries represent 7 stallions, with Tapit and Gun Runner each siring two runners.  Six trainers train the 9 colts, with Brad Cox having 2 in his stable, and Todd Pletcher has 3.
  Following are the post positions, name of entry, morning line betting odds, sire and dam:
1.   Tapit Shoes     20 to 1     Tapit    Awesome Flower
2.   Tapit Trice     3 to 1      Tapit    Danzatrice
3.   Arcangelo     8 to 1     Arrogate    Modeling
4.   National Treasure     5 to 1     Quality Road    Treasure
5.   Il Miracolo     30 to 1     Gun Runner    Tapit's World
6.   Forte      5 to 2     Violence    Queen Caroline
7.   Hit Show     10 to 1     Candy Ride (ARG)    Actress
8.   Angel of Empire     7 to 2     Classic Empire    Armony's Angel
9.   Red Route One     15 to 1     Gun Runner    Red House
Il Miracolo has the longest morning line betting price

Here's a toast to a safe race for all participants....   And if you bet, good luck!

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