Exaggerator, the Kentucky Derby runner up to Nyquist and the convincing winner of the Preakness Stakes, has not scared too many away, with a dozen foes set to face off with him on Saturday in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.
The colt was installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite and is getting bet heavily in early Belmont Stakes wagering, down to as low as 5-4. This despite the fact his Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux spent time this week voluntarily in rehab for alcohol abuse but will be in the saddle on Saturday.
While American Pharoah got the job done as the favorite last year in his historic Triple Crown run, that colt was the first winning favorite in the Belmont since Afleet Alex in 2005.
Among Exaggerator’s foes on Saturday are five runners that competed in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness, coming in fresh looking for an upset.
Suddenbreakingnews was fifth in the Kentucky Derby and may end up going off as the second choice in the betting, the colt currently at odds of 7-1.
Destin was sixth in the Kentucky Derby, his first start since winning the Tampa Bay Derby nearly two months earlier. His current odds for the Belmont stand at 9-1. His trainer Todd Pletcher will also saddle Stradivari, who was fourth in the Preakness Stakes in his last outing.
Brody’s Cause was a disappointing seventh in the Derby after his win in the Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland in his final prep. The late running son of Giant’s Causeway is currently at odds of 14-1.
Creator won the Arkansas Derby in his final prep, but failed to run back to that effort in a 13th place finish in the Run for the Roses. After skipping the Preakness, the colt has worked sharply for his return and could be a danger. His Belmont Stakes odds are currently 16-1.
Trojan Nation will break from the nine post and after missing winning the Wood Memorial by a head was outrun in the Derby, checking in 16th. His current Belmont odds are 40-1.
Lani is the only runner in the field other than the favorite to compete in all three jewels of the Triple Crown. The Japanese import was ninth in the Derby and improved to finish fifth in the Preakness. He is bred to handle the 1 ½ mile distance and is at odds of 16-1.
Gettysburg is a newcomer to the Triple Crown, and will be the likely pacesetter. His odds are 40-1.
Trainer Dallas Stewart sends out a pair of recent maiden winners, Seeking the Soul and Forever d’Oro, both at 40-1. Don’t count this trainer out. He sent out longshots Commanding Curve and Golden Soul to run second in the Kentucky Derby at big odds and did the same with Tale of Verve, who ran second at a big price in the Preakness last year.