By US Racing Team
The $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) is the final leg of the Triple Crown. The 155th running of the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion” is Saturday, June 10. US Racing will be publishing profiles on all the contenders, including updated versions with odds and post-positions following the gate draw on Tuesday, June 6.
2023 Belmont Stakes Entries
FORTE
Off the vet’s list, check. Bloodwork, check. Recent workout, check. All is clear for Forte to resume his racing career in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday (June 10).
Expected to be the favorite for the Kentucky Derby on May 6, Forte was scratched hours before the race, then placed on the 14-day veterinarian’s list which kept him out of the Preakness on May 20.
Forte posted his final workout before the 1 ½-mile final leg of the Triple Crown and was pronounced as fit as can be by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who added that bloodwork drawn earlier in the week came back negative and he’s been officially OK’d to race.
“He went 59 and 3 and it looked like he was doing it well within himself, good gallop out,’’ Pletcher said after the work on June 3. “He came back and cooled out quickly. It was exactly what we were hoping he would go out there and do, and I think based off the strength of his breezes, he’s coming into it as well as we hope.”
The 2-year-old champion has won six of his seven starts, including the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby this year. His official work time was 59.67 seconds for 5 furlongs with regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.
Forte is one of two top Belmont contenders. Tapit Trice, the Blue Grass winner who ran seventh in the Kentucky Derby, is the other.
2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders: Forte
Post position: 6
Odds: 5-2
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Owner: Repole Stable (Mike Repole), St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)
Career record: 7-6-0-0
Career earnings: $2,409,830
Best Equibase speed figure: 106
Pedigree: Violence-Queen Carolina, by Blame
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker/closer
Notes: Pletcher is seeking his fifth Belmont victory … his winners: the filly Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013, Tapwrit in 2017, and Mo Donegal last year … Forte was purchased for $110,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale … Ortiz has two Belmont victories from eight attempts – winning aboard Creator in 2016 and Mo Donegal for Pletcher in 2022 … According to the NYRA media guide, seven jockeys have won two Belmonts in a row, the most recent being Ron Turcotte aboard Riva Ridge in 1972 and Triple Crown winner Secretariat in 1973.
2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders, Odds and Post Positions
| PP | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tapit Shoes | 3-1 | Brad H. Cox | Jose Ortiz |
| 2 | Tapit Trice | 3-1 | Todd A. Pletcher | Luis Saez |
| 3 | Arcangelo | 8-1 | Jena M. Antonucci | Javier Castellano |
| 4 | National Treasure | 5-1 | Bob Baffert | John R. Velazquez |
| 5 | Il Miracolo | 30-1 | Antonio Sano | Marcos Meneses |
| 6 | Forte | 5-2 | Todd A. Pletcher | Irad Ortiz, Jr. |
| 7 | Hit Show | 10-1 | Brad H. Cox | Manuel Franco |
| 8 | Angel of Empire | 7-2 | Brad H. Cox | Flavien Prat |
| 9 | Red Route One | 15-1 | Steve M. Asmussen | Joel Rosario |