Belmont Stakes 2017 Contenders
The 2017 Belmont Stakes is still 18 days away and the field is continuing to take shape. While it’s a little early to put together a probable field, there’s at least 14 horses under consideration for the final leg of the Triple Crown, as seen on Horse Racing Nation's Stakes Tracker.
Classic Empire: After a gallant yet troubled run to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby and losing the Preakness Stakes by a head, Classic Empire is pressing on to the Belmont Stakes and may find himself as the favorite.
Cloud Computing: Before the Preakness, Chad Brown stated Cloud Computing would not run in the Belmont. After an upset win though, Brown is considering the third leg of the Triple Crown, but has not given any answers that lean one way or the other.
Twisted Tom: Cloud Computing is not the only late developing three-year-old in the Chad Brown barn. Twisted Tom is on a three-race win streak, including two stakes in Maryland. $75,000 would be needed to supplement Twisted Tom into the final leg of the Triple Crown campaign.
Senior Investment: Following a late run for third in the Preakness Stakes, trainer Kenny McPeek is confident that the 1 ½ miles in the Belmont will benefit his horse.
Lookin At Lee: The Kentucky Derby runner-up made another late run in the Preakness to finish fourth. Steve Asmussen, who won last year’s Belmont with Creator, also thinks the Belmont distance should suit Lookin At Lee.
Tapwrit: The Tampa Bay Derby winner through a clunker in the Blue Grass, but came back to run a respectable sixth in the Kentucky Derby. Partial owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners also had part ownership in Destin, who lost the 2016 Belmont by a nose to Creator. Both Tapwrit and Destin are trained by Todd Pletcher.
Patch: The fan favorite, one-eyed Patch is another Pletcher horse under consideration for the Belmont. The Kentucky Derby marked only his fourth start and he finished 14th from post 20.
Gormley: John Shirreffs sent Gormley to Churchill Downs after winning the Santa Anita Derby, but the best the colt managed was ninth place. Gormley skipped the Preakness, but will take another shot at the Triple Crown campaign in the Belmont.
Irap: After breaking his maiden in the Blue Grass Stakes, Irap ran a distant 18th in the Kentucky Derby. The Doug O’Neill trainee skipped the Preakness, but is also expected in the Belmont.
Epicharis: While the Japanese runner skipped the Kentucky Derby, his connections always noted they would make the trip to America for the Belmont. His one loss was in the UAE Derby when Thunder Snow nipped him at the wire.
Multiplier: After a sixth-place effort in the Preakness, the Illinois Derby winner returned to his Kentucky base. Trainer Brendan Walsh said Multiplier was a possible for the Belmont.
Meantime: Brian Lynch sent Meantime out in the Peter Pan Stakes, the local prep for the Belmont, where the colt finished second in his stakes debut.
Conquest Mo Money: After a disappointing seventh in the Preakness, Conquest Mo Money may be looking for redemption in the Belmont, and the speedy colt will hopefully draw better than the far outside post.
J Boys Echo: The Gotham winner only managed 15th in the Kentucky Derby, but Dale Romans could be giving his Derby horse a chance for improvement in the Belmont.
By Christine Oser