2020 Belmont Stakes Field Preview & Poll
The Belmont Stakes will look a bit different this year as the first jewel — for the first time in history! — of the coveted Triple Crown. Take a look at the field and let us know who you think will win.
The Secretariat statue at Belmont Park, honoring the horse who achieved probably the most memorable Belmont victory in history. Public domain.
The 152nd Belmont Stakes is running tomorrow, June 20th, 2020 at 5:42 pm EDT at Belmont Park. The race will look a bit different this year. The most notable changes for this year are that the race will be run at a modified distance (a mile-and-an-eighth rather than its usual mile-and-a-half), there will be no spectators allowed at Belmont Park to observe the race or partake in the festivities due to concerns surrounding COVID-19 and the purse has been reduced to $1 million (a third less than the usual purse). Oh, and it’s the first time in history the Belmont has preceded the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
Be that as it may, the show — er, race must go on. Ten top-class contenders are preparing to duke it out on Saturday: get the details on the field, and then vote in our poll for who you think will win!
Post Position 1: Tap It To Win (6-1)
Bay colt by Tapit, bred by Live Oak Stud
Owned by Live Oak Plantation
Trained by Mark Casse
Ridden by John Velazquez
Claims to fame: achieved an impressive win in his second career start last summer at Saratoga; after two disappointing stakes tries, he made his way back on with two wins this year, taking a six-furlong allowance-optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park by 1 ½ lengths in May and then a 1 1/16-mile, one-turn allowance at Belmont Park on June 4 by five lengths over highly regarded Mystic Guide
Post Position 2: Sole Volante (9-2)
Bay gelding by Karakontie, bred by Flaxman Holdings Limited
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Biancone, Andie
Trained by Patrick Biancone
Ridden by Luca Panici
Claims to fame: had an eye-catching win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs before running second in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby to King Guillermo; after a three-month break had a win in a tough one-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park on June 10, defeating Curlin Florida Derby runner-up Shivaree (who finished third) and Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes winner and stablemate Ete Indien (fourth)
Post Position 3: Max Player (15-1)
Dark bay/brown colt by Honor Code, bred by K & G Stables
Owned by Hall, George E. and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corporation
Trained by Linda Rice
Ridden by Joel Rosario
Claims to fame: showed a lot of promise in his 3-year-old debut by winning in the 1 1/8-mile Withers Stakes at Aqueduct by 3 ½ lengths; has two other starts Parx Racing, where he placed first and second
Post Position 4: Modernist (15-1)
Dark bay/brown colt by Uncle Mo, bred by Wygod Family, LLC
Owned by Pam and Martin Wygod
Trained by William Mott
Ridden by Junior Alvarado
Claims to fame: won two of his three starts this year at the distance mile-and-an-eighth distance — those came when he broke his maiden at Aqueduct back in January when he took his next start against tougher company, winning the second division of the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15
Post Position 5: Farmington Road (15-1)
Bay colt by Quality Road, bred by Chrysalis Stables
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Chrysalis Stables LLC and Robert LaPenta
Trained by Todd Pletcher
Ridden by Javier Castellano
Claims to fame: broke his maiden in his second start as a 3-year-old back in January at Tampa Bay Downs; raced in three consecutive stakes races after that in which he was the a proverbial “late on the scene” horse each time; he nabbed fourth in the first division of the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford in March, nearly got up to win the Oaklawn Stakes in April, and then ran on to get fourth again in the second division of the Arkansas Derby on May
Post Position 6: Fore Left (30-1)
Bay colt by Twirling Candy, bred by Machmer Hall
Owned by Reddam Racing LLC
Trained by Doug O’Neill
Ridden by Jose Ortiz
Claims to fame: has acquired four wins on dirt and handled traveling across the world with ease earlier this year, winning the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Sponsored by Masdar at Meydan Racecourse back in February; his other three wins were at Santa Anita and Belmont; his worst three races prior to the UAE Two Thousand Guineas came at seven furlongs or longer, but he did win the Two Thousand Guineas at just under a mile rather easily
Post Position 7: Jungle Runner (50-1)
Bay colt by Candy Ride, bred by Calumet Farm
Owned by Calumet Farm
Trained by Steven Asmussen
Ridden by Reylu Gutierrez
Claims to fame: both of his wins came last fall at Remington Park – one of them in a listed stakes – and preceded his final start of the year, also at Remington, where he faced tougher competition in the Springboard Mile and finished fourth by 14 lengths
Post Position 8: Tiz the Law (6-5)
Bay colt by Constitution, bred by Twin Creeks Farm
Owned by Sackatoga Stable
Trained by Barclay Tagg
Ridden by Manny Franco
Claims to fame: this colt comes in as the clear favorite, having dominated his career debut at Saratoga and then taking the one-turn mile Champagne Stakes at Belmont in October by four lengths; his only loss came on a wet track in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, but even then he finished a close third; he has two wins this year at Gulfstream Park – a three-length score in the Holy Bull Stakes and a 4 ¼-length romp in the Curlin Florida Derby
Post Position 9: Dr. Post (5-1)
Dark bay/brown colt by Quality Road, bred by Cloyce C. Clark
Owned by St. Elias Stable
Trained by Todd Pletcher
Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Claims to fame: won both of his starts as a 3-year-old; after a nearly nine-month break in late March at Gulfstream Park and won a seven-furlong maiden race, and then took the 1 1/16-mile Unbridled Stakes at Gulfstream on April 25
Post Position 10: Pneumatic (8-1)
Dark bay/brown colt by Uncle Mo, bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
Trained by Steven Assmussn
Ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Claims to fame: hastwo impressive wins at Oaklawn Park and competed well into the deep stretch before he came in third behind Maxfield and Ny Traffic at the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 23
Who do you think will win the Belmont Stakes? Let us know in this poll!
