The US$1.5 million Belmont Stakes drew a field of eight 3-year-olds who will compete on Saturday in the 1 1/2-mile Test of the Champion, the final leg of the 2022 Triple Crown.
The field has a distinguished group of trainers – three who won the Belmont in the past, three who are in the Hall of Fame, three with Preakness wins, and two with a victory in the Kentucky Derby.
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We the People(2-1 – Constitution – Rodolphe Brisset / Flavien Prat – 4: 3-0-0 - $230,250) We the People won his first two races at Oaklawn Park, which propelled him onto the Derby trail in the Arkansas Derby (G1) where he was a disappointing seventh at odds of 2.40-1. On that day, he was washed out before the race, ran wide and showed very little. Trainer Brisset, who learned his craft in New York working for Bill Mott, won the Peter Pan (G3) where We the People raced on the lead on a wet track to set him up for the Belmont. There is a significant chance of rain on Saturday. Win contender.
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Skippylongstocking(20-1 – Exaggerator – Saffie Joseph Jr. / Manny Franco – 10: 2-1-2 - $214,600) Skippylongstocking moved from a third in the Wood Memorial (G2) to the Preakness, where he was fifth. Both of his victories were at Gulfstream Park, which is the home base for trainer Joseph. In the Wood, he did finish behind Mo Donegal and Early Voting. He will need a much improved effort to compete in the Belmont. Toss.
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Nest(8-1 – Curlin – Todd Pletcher / Jose Ortiz – 6: 4-1-0 - $850,550) Only two fillies have ever won the Belmont Stakes, and one of them, Rags to Riches in 2007, was trained by Pletcher. Last seen, Nest was second in the Kentucky Oaks after a victory in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland. Nest is bred to handle the Belmont distance, with Curlin as her sire and an A. P. Indy dam. She will be running at the end of the race when others will be tiring. It makes sense to try the Belmont with Nest because it will leave prestigious opportunities for her against 3-year-old fillies later in the summer and fall, such as the CCA Oaks (G1) and the Cotillion (G1). Use underneath.
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Rich Strike(7-2 – Keen Ice – Eric Reed / Sonny Leon – 8: 2-0-3 - $1, 971,289) Questions finally will be answered about the long-shot winner of the Kentucky Derby. Rich Strike got the second win of his career when the last-minute entry weaved his way through the field to find Derby glory. His first victory came in a maiden claimer at Churchill Downs, where the current connections claimed him for $30,000. Many handicappers believe his upset win was because of a perfect pace-aided trip, but trainer Reed had the Belmont Stakes as a goal even before he won on the first Saturday in May. Skipping the Preakness should help. He will need to stay closer to the pace than in the Derby. Jockey Sonny Leon will be riding on the 1 1/2-mile oval for the first time. Win contender.
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Creative Minister(6-1 – Creative Cause – Kenneth McPeek / Brian Hernandez, Jr. – 4: 2-1-1 - $322,095) Creative Minister accomplished a lot in his short racing career, which began in March. He broke his maiden in April and then ran in races that followed the Triple Crown schedule. The son of Creative Cause won an allowance on the Kentucky Derby undercard, was third in the Preakness and now moves to the Test of the Champion. The big question for Creative Minister will be, can he continue to move forward or will five races in three months catch up to him? Trainer Mc Peek won the Belmont in 2002 with long shot Sarava, Win contender.
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Mo Donegal(5-2 – Uncle Mo – Todd Pletcher / Irad Ortiz Jr. – 6: 3-0-2 - $711,900) Mo Donegal made it to the Kentucky Derby with a pair of wins at Aqueduct in the Remsen (G2) as a 2-year-old and the Wood Memorial, where he beat the eventual Preakness winner Early Voting. Between New York victories, he was third in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park. In the Derby, Mo Donegal was fifth, which critics of the son of Uncle Mo felt was a disappointing finish. He will get to run out of his own stall in the Belmont and is likely to be much closer to the pace than in the Run for the Roses. Hall of Fame trainer Pletcher has three Belmont Stakes wins to his credit, most recently with Tapwrit in 2017. Win contender.
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Golden Glider(20-1 – Ghostzapper – Mark Casse / Dylan Davis – 6: 2-1-0 - $159,122) Golden Glider won the first two races of his career – last year in his debut at Woodbine, which is a stronghold for trainer Mark Casse, and then in a Tampa Bay Downs allowance. Three starts on the Derby trail resulted in a pair of fourths and a fifth. He became a contender for the Belmont when he was second in the Peter Pan (G3), which is the local prep for the 12-furlong Test of the Champion. Golden Glider will have to prove that he belongs with top 3-year-olds in a Triple Crown race. Hall of Famer Casse won the Belmont in 2019 with Sir Winston. Toss.
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Barber Road(10-1 – Race Day – John Ortiz / Joel Rosario – 9: 2-4-1 - $650,720) Barber Road has put together an impressive record with only two finishes outside of the top three – one in his racing debut and most recently when sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). His last four starts were in graded stakes, and three of those were in Derby prep races at Oaklawn Park. Barber Road comes down the stretch with a steady and determined closing move. Blinkers will come off for the first time since he started his career, and Joel Rosario gets the mount. He should be expected to handle the Belmont Stakes distance and could get another noteworthy finish, although a win would be unexpected. Use underneath.
Summary: When the 2-1 morning line favorite We the People drew the inside post position, any doubt about his racing strategy disappeared. He will go to the front as he did when he won the Peter Pan by more than 10 lengths. If the track is wet on Saturday, that will certainly bolster his chances to give trainer Rodolphe Brisset his first victory in a Triple Crown race.
