ELMONT, NY — With GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) breaking from post four, a field of eight was drawn Tuesday morning for Saturday's GI Belmont S.
The monumental come-from-behind 80-1 Derby upsetter heads to the final leg of the Triple Crown fresh after skipping the GI Preakness S. He has been installed as the third choice on the morning line at odds of 7-2.
“He's doing really good since he's been here, he's training better every day,” trainer Eric Reed, seated alongside owner Richard Dawson, said at Tuesday's well-attended draw from Belmont's Triple Crown Lounge. “I don't think the pace will be nearly as fast. He's still going to drop back, that's just his style of running. Turning for home, if he's close enough, he'll have a real good shot at it.”
The pace of the race is expected to come from the rail-drawn 'TDN Rising Star' We the People (Constitution), a runaway front-running winner in a sloppy renewal of the local prep GIII Peter Pan S. He was given the 2-1 nod on the morning line.
Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), a rallying fifth in the Derby, was installed as the 5-2 second choice. He will break from post six. Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Nest (Curlin) takes on the boys following a runner-up effort in the GI Kentucky Oaks.
This story will be updated.
From the rail out, the complete field for the GI Belmont S.:
1-We the People (Constitution) (2-1)
2-Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) (20-1)
3-Nest (Curlin) (8-1)
4-Rich Strike (Keen Ice) (7-2)
5-Creative Minister (Creative Cause) (6-1)
6-Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) (5-2)
7-Golden Glider (Ghostzapper) (20-1)
8-Barber Road (Race Day) (10-1)
The post Rail-Drawn We the People Favored for Belmont Stakes; Derby Winner Rich Strike Third Choice appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
