Belmont Stakes 2021 Entries & Post Positions

With no Triple Crown on the line - some may not be as interested in the Grade I Belmont this Saturday but it should still be a fantastic race. Preakness winner Rombauer has been entered along with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champion - Essential Quality.

Going into the draw there was a question whether it would be nine or ten entries but the official number was just eight following the late withdrawal of Rebel’s Romance and our editor has an overview of the entries below…

We have to start with Preakness winner Rombauer who surprised many by taking out the second race of the Triple Crown series at Pimlico on May 15. The son of Grade I winner Twirling Candy showed plenty by winning that race and has clearly improved over the past few months. That third place finish at the Blue Grass was a lot better than it may have looked so isn’t one to rule out. Should he win the Belmont however it will be seen as a pretty big surprise for me but he's your 3-1 second favorite on the Morning Line.

Another big surprise was when Essential Quality failed to win the Kentucky Derby back on May 1. Before that race - the Tapit colt was undefeated including four straight wins at the Graded Stakes level. I like his pedigree to go that extra quarter of a mile up at Belmont. Got to feel as though he has a great chance to take out the race and springboard towards a big summer - with the Travers, Jim Dandy and potentially BC Classic in November on the agenda. He's your 2-1 M/L favorite.

Our turf-man really liked Rebel’s Romance who had been flown in by Charlie Appleby. The winner of the UAE Derby is an unknown to many US Horse Bettors but would have gotten a long look from our guys when they handicap the race later in the week. However about two hours before the Post Position draw - owners Godolphin tweeted that he’s been scratched due to a minor infection in his hind leg. This is really disappointing news.

One other non-US horse has been entered as France Go de Ina tries his luck at the Belmont following a seventh place finish at the Preakness. He finished sixth at the aforementioned UAE Derby but was extremely highly thought of going into that race. Likely to be an outsider in the Belmont and the M/L agrees - 30-1.

John Sadler sends Rock Your World (9-2) across the country and the Santa Anita Derby winner will get plenty of long looks. He got a terrible trip in the Kentucky Derby but if he gets to the front early then he’s firmly in the mix. He’s likely to jostle with Hot Rod Charlie (7-2) to get to the front and set the pace of the race. Whichever of those two three-year-olds makes it into the first turn in the lead then you have to like their chances. Importantly Hot Rod Charlie will break from PP 4 with Rock Your World out at PP 7.

Todd Pletcher is sending out three horses for the race and none of them are expected to be at the top of the betting charts going into the Belmont. Florida Derby winner Known Agenda finished ninth at the Kentucky Derby with stablemate Bourbonic coming home 13th. Overtook didn’t get to race at Churchill Downs but the runner-up at the Withers and third-place finisher at the Peter Pan will get his Triple Crown chance on Saturday.

Here at HorseRacing.net we'll have comprehensive coverage of the action at Belmont Park throughout the week and on Belmont Stakes day itself. Our in-house handicapper will be handicapping the cards in-depth on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with our turf-man also providing his thoughts on all the Graded Stakes races throughout. They will also provide their thoughts on all the runners in the Belmont Stakes. So keep checking back with us all week for coverage of the Belmont Stakes and all the undercard races.

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