Multiplier will compete in Belmont Stakes 2017

Multiplier, the Grade 3 Illinois Derby winner who was sixth in the Preakness Stakes at 19-1 odds, will run in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, presented by NYRA Bets, unless a reason surfaces that he shouldn't, trainer Brendan Walsh said Thursday at Churchill Downs.

"But he's giving me every indication right now that he's doing great," he said.

Walsh said he'll probably be in the saddle for a routine pre-Belmont workout, which likely will be Saturday at Keeneland. Multiplier is scheduled to fly out of Louisville Tuesday on the Tex Sutton equine charter to New York. 

Joel Rosario, aboard in the Preakness, will have the Belmont mount, Walsh said. The roan son of the very fast horse The Factor was purchased privately by Gary Barber, Adam Wachtel and George Kerr after the Illinois Derby.

"I thought he ran well. He was sixth but beaten three-quarters of a length for third and we didn't have a very good trip," Walsh said of the Preakness. "He got shuffled right back at the start. When they turned for home, he was really coming with a run. If you watch it, he got stopped at the head of the straight twice. And he's not a horse that needs that. He needs to get rolling; he doesn't need to be stopped. He came back rolling again, but then it was too late. I think there were a couple of horses unlucky not to be third in the race.

"[The Belmont] might be his race. Even going to the Preakness, I was hoping he'd run a race good enough to justify going to the Belmont. Even though he's not really bred to go that far, he's got plenty of stamina in his back family. Who knows? I think the track will suit him, that he's cut out for that. Joel knows him now, too. I think he's a horse you've got to know a little bit. He does need a very, very aggressive rider. He knows that now, too, so that's going to be a big plus as well."

The inclusion of Multiplier brings the number of confirmed runners to nine for the 149th running of the longest and final leg of racing's vaunted Triple Crown, the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, presented by NYRA Bets. Likely runners also include Grade 3 Peter Pan runner-up Meantime, Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley, Grade 2 Louisiana Derby runner-up Patch, and Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner Irish War Cry, all pending workouts this weekend.

The three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, on June 8-10, is comprised of 15 graded stakes, including six Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, worth more than $9 million in total purses.

Probable contenders for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes

Probable: Classic Empire (Mark Casse); Epicharis (Kiyoshi Hagiwara); J Boys Echo (Dale Romans); Lookin At Lee (Steve Asmussen); Meantime (Brian Lynch); Multiplier (Brendan Walsh); Senior Investment (Kenny McPeek); Tapwrit (Todd Pletcher); True Timber (Kiaran McLaughlin); Twisted Tom (Chad Brown) 

Possible: Gormley (John Shirreffs); Irish War Cry (Graham Motion); Patch (Pletcher)