Exaggerator favourite for Belmont
Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator is the 9-5 favourite in a field of 13 for the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown.
The three-year-old colt trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by his brother, will start from barrier 11.
Stradivari, who ran fourth in the Preakness in his stakes debut, is the surprising second choice at 5-1.
Destin, sixth in the Kentucky Derby, is the third choice at 6-1. Both are trained by Todd Pletcher, a two-time Belmont winner. Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine is 8-1.
Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, who finished third in the Preakness, will not run after being sidelined with a fever.
A year ago, American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, sweeping the Derby, Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, the longest of the three races at 2400 metres.
Kent Desormeaux does not think the wide draw on Saturday (Sunday AEST) will be a concern.
“I can’t see any horse that would cross over on him,” Desormeaux said.
“I’d like to establish position preferably without him getting a grain of sand in his face.”
The 46-year-old rider returned to the track on Tuesday after a brief stay in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Utah..
Desormeaux isn’t about to predict where Exaggerator will be during the race, but said he would let him find his own place.
“I’m going to let Exaggerator get comfortable, wherever that is it’s going to be,” he said.
“If I could have a dream run, he would be forwardly placed, and I would be able to dreamingly decide when to pull the trigger.”