With two days to the 2006 Belmont Stakes, it's in some ways any horse's race without the winner of either the Kentucky Derby or Preakness in the lineup. While there's no knock-'em-dead favorite on Saturday, three horses look like possible contenders for Belmont glory.
Sunriver - 4/1, post position 2
One of trainer Todd Pletcher's two hopefuls in the Belmont Stakes, Sunriver finished only 3 1/2 lengths behind Barbaro in this year's Florida Derby, and won by a neck in the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont in late May. The horse was excluded from the Kentucky Derby due to insufficient earnings.
Sunriver is 3-2-1 in seven starts, with $281,400 in earnings.
Bluegrass Cat - 3/1, post position 9
After losing by an astonishing 21 lengths at the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April, Bluegrass Cat rebounded to capture second place in the Kentucky Derby. Along with this momentum Bluegrass Cat also has an able rider in Ramon Dominguez, national champion jockey in both 2004 and 2005. Trainer Todd Pletcher was pleased with the colt's Sunday morning working at Belmont Park, where he ran five furlongs in 1:00.30.
Bluegrass Cat is 4-2-0 in eight starts, including a victory in the Grade II Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, and has amassed earnings of $761,280.
Steppenwolfer - 4/1, post position 11
Steppenwolfer has made it to the board in all but his first start, and has done so in his last four races against some tough 3-year-olds. And, of course, he finished right behind co-favorite Bluegrass Cat to capture third in the Kentucky Derby. After a workout at Belmont on Friday, trainer Danny Peitz says Steppenwolfer is working as hard as any time since his purchase in April 2005.
Steppenwolfer is 3-2-3 in nine starts, with $561,520 in earnings.
Like one of the favorites? Got a hunch on a longshot? Check out the latest Belmont betting odds at the Bodog Racebook!
Sunriver - 4/1, post position 2
One of trainer Todd Pletcher's two hopefuls in the Belmont Stakes, Sunriver finished only 3 1/2 lengths behind Barbaro in this year's Florida Derby, and won by a neck in the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont in late May. The horse was excluded from the Kentucky Derby due to insufficient earnings.
Sunriver is 3-2-1 in seven starts, with $281,400 in earnings.
Bluegrass Cat - 3/1, post position 9
After losing by an astonishing 21 lengths at the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April, Bluegrass Cat rebounded to capture second place in the Kentucky Derby. Along with this momentum Bluegrass Cat also has an able rider in Ramon Dominguez, national champion jockey in both 2004 and 2005. Trainer Todd Pletcher was pleased with the colt's Sunday morning working at Belmont Park, where he ran five furlongs in 1:00.30.
Bluegrass Cat is 4-2-0 in eight starts, including a victory in the Grade II Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct, and has amassed earnings of $761,280.
Steppenwolfer - 4/1, post position 11
Steppenwolfer has made it to the board in all but his first start, and has done so in his last four races against some tough 3-year-olds. And, of course, he finished right behind co-favorite Bluegrass Cat to capture third in the Kentucky Derby. After a workout at Belmont on Friday, trainer Danny Peitz says Steppenwolfer is working as hard as any time since his purchase in April 2005.
Steppenwolfer is 3-2-3 in nine starts, with $561,520 in earnings.
Like one of the favorites? Got a hunch on a longshot? Check out the latest Belmont betting odds at the Bodog Racebook!
