Kentucky Derby runner-upSierra Leonedrew post 9 in the fieldof 10 and was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’sBelmont Stakes,scheduled to be run Saturday at 6:41 p.m. EDT at Saratoga.
Trainer Chad Brown entered the winnerof the Grade 1 Blue Grass and called on Flavien Prat to replace TylerGaffalione for the ride this weekend.
First Look: See the fields for all the weekend graded stakes.
A Todd Pletcher entrant is the only one in the field who hasnot run in a graded stakes. Mindframe, who drew post 10, was made the 7-2 second choice thanks in large measure to his 2-for-2 record with an average winning margin of more than 10 lengths.
"He's a very talented colt," Pletcher said. "His two races have been very impressive. He trained very impressively before his debut. Of course, we're giving up a lot of seasoning, a lot of experience to some very good horses, so that's the main concern."
The $600,000 Constitution colt owned by Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola won his debut at Gulfstream Park inMarch and then led from gate to wire in an optional-claiming allowance on theKentucky Derby undercard. Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for both starts, and hewill ride again Saturday.
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, with Brian Hernandez Jr.in the saddle again for trainer Kenny McPeek, got post 3. The Goldencents colt whowas second by 2 1/4 lengths in the Preakness will be ridden again by Brian Hernandez Jr. and was installed with odds of 5-1.
"(Lead owner) Lance Gasaway sent me a message this morning. 'Go there and get post 3,' " Mystik Dan's trainer Kenny McPeek said. "It's his lucky number, I guess. But no, we're thrilled with that. I think that was great. It's out of our control now. It's up to Brian."
Preakness winner Seize the Grey drew the rail post with JaimeTorres riding for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Also the winner of the Pat Day Mile(G2), the Arrogate colt has program odds of 8-1.
Others from the Kentucky Derby who will run in the Belmontare Resilience, who was sixth at Churchill Downs and has post 2; Honor Marie,who was eighth and has post 8; and Dornoch, 10th in the Derby and drawn intopost 6 on Saturday.
The top three finishers in the Peter Pan (G3) also are inthe field. Winner Antiquarian is 1 of 3 entries for Pletcher and will be riddenby John Velázquez, who also rode him in the May 11 Peter Pan. Antiquarian wasassigned post 5.
2024 Belmont Stakes G1
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Seize The Grey Arrogate | 7.87 | D. Wayne Lukas Jaime Torres | 1st, 2024 Preakness Stakes G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 8-1 |
| Last Race Next Race | 1st, 2024 Preakness Stakes G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 2 |  | Resilience Into Mischief | 7.46 | William I. Mott Junior Alvarado | 6th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 10-1 |
| Last Race Next Race | 6th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 3 |  | Mystik Dan Goldencents | 7.98 | Kenneth G. McPeek Brian J. Hernandez, Jr. | 2nd, 2024 Preakness Stakes G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 5-1 |
| Last Race Next Race | 2nd, 2024 Preakness Stakes G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 4 |  | The Wine Steward Vino Rosso | 6.35 | Michael J. Maker Manuel Franco | 2nd, 2024 Peter Pan G3 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 15-1 |
| Last Race Next Race | 2nd, 2024 Peter Pan G3 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 5 |  | Antiquarian Preservationist | 6.45 | Todd A. Pletcher John R. Velazquez | 1st, 2024 Peter Pan G3 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 12-1 |
| Last Race Next Race | 1st, 2024 Peter Pan G3 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 6 |  | Dornoch Good Magic | 7.17 | Danny Gargan Luis Saez | 10th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 15-1 |
| Last Race Next Race | 10th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 7 |  | Protective Medaglia d'Oro | 0.00 | Todd A. Pletcher Tyler Gaffalione | 3rd, 2024 Peter Pan G3 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 20-1 |
| Last Race Next Race | 3rd, 2024 Peter Pan G3 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 8 |  | Honor Marie Honor Code | 6.80 | D. Whitworth Beckman Florent Geroux | 8th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 10-1 |
| Last Race Next Race | 8th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 9 |  | Sierra Leone Gun Runner | 7.90 | Chad C. Brown Flavien Prat | 2nd, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 9-5 |
| Last Race Next Race | 2nd, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
| 10 |  | Mindframe Constitution | 6.87 | Todd A. Pletcher Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 1st, CD AlwOC (5/4/24-R3) 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | 7-2 |
| Last Race Next Race | 1st, CD AlwOC (5/4/24-R3) 2024 Belmont Stakes G1 | |||||
