Pletcher Seeks Third Belmont Stakes Win With Patch, Tapwrit

Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out a pair of top contenders in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

Both Patch and Tapwrit are worth a look on Saturday as Pletcher seeks his third win in the biggest race run in the Big Apple all year.

Pletcher saddled Rags to Riches to victory in the Belmont Stakes in 2007, just the third filly to win the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

The seven-time Eclipse Award winner also saddled Palace Malice to victory in 2013. He ran second with Bluegrass Cat (2006), Dunkirk (2009), Stay Thirsty (2011), Commissioner (2014) and Destin (2016).

Tapwrit is currently 15-1 in early Belmont Stakes betting. The colt had a rough trip in a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, beaten 10 ¼ lengths for the top spot. His best outing this spring was his victory in the Tampa Bay Derby in March.

Patch had a tough post in the Derby, breaking from the 20 slot, and did not have the best of trips in a 14th place finish.

The colt is lightly raced with just four starts under his belt. He broke his maiden in his second career start and then ran second in the Louisiana Derby to earn his ticket to Louisville for the Run for the Roses.

The colt has the pedigree to handle the demanding 1 ½ mile distance of the Belmont Stakes. His sire Union Rags won the Belmont Stakes in 2012 and his mare is by A.P. Indy, who won the 1992 running of the Belmont.

With the defection of early Belmont favorite Classic Empire, Irish War Cry has taken over as the early betting favorite at odds of 3-1.

The Graham Motion trainee makes his first start since a disappointing 10th place finish in the Run for the Roses.

The colt put in two of the most impressive preps this spring, winning the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park and the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, but also tossed in a real clunker in a seventh-place finish in the Fountain of Youth.

Epicharis is the second choice in early Belmont betting at 7-2. The Japanese invader makes his first start since running second in the UAE Derby in Dubai.

The colt has not trained the past couple of days, coming up with a front right foot issue, which is making his participation in doubt although his connections are still planning on running the colt, who has won four of his five career starts.

Post time for the 149th running of the Belmont Stakes is 6:37 ET and will be broadcast live on NBC.

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