Belmont Stakes 2023: Early Predictions for National Treasure, Top Contenders

For the fifth consecutive year, horse racing won't have a Triple Crown winner.

After Mage won the Kentucky Derby and National Treasure won the Preakness Stakes, it's guaranteed that Justify (2018) will remain the most recent horse to achieve the elusive feat.

However, there should still be plenty of excitement around this year's Belmont Stakes, which will take place at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. on June 10.

It isn't yet known which horses will participate in the final leg of this year's Triple Crown, but there should be some familiar colts that raced in the Derby or Preakness at the event.

The Belmont field could include National Treasure, who became the eighth Bob Baffert-trained horse to win the Preakness on Saturday. With that victory, the 70-year-old became the winningest trainer in the event's 148-year history.

On Sunday morning, Baffert had not decided whether National Treasure will race the Belmont, but he indicated it's a possibility.

Arabian Lion, another Baffert-trained horse that won the Sir Barton Stakes on Saturday, could also be entered into the Belmont. The colt was sired by Justify.

"It looks like [National Treasure and Arabian Lion] came out of it well," the legendary trainer said, per Bob Ehalt of BloodHorse.com. "I'm going to leave them for a few days, I'm not sure, and if they look good, I'll ship them to Belmont."

Mage could have had an opportunity to win the Triple Crown if he had been victorious in the Preakness. Instead, the Gustavo Delgado-trained horse will not be participating in the Belmont.

After Saturday's race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Mage is now slated for some time off.

"We will give him a little vacation and he will power up and we will figure out the best way to get to the Travers [Stakes on Aug. 26]," co-owner Ramiro Restrepo said, per Horse Racing Nation.

One horse to watch heading into the Belmont will be Forte. He was the early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby before getting scratched on the day of the race due to a bruised right foot that also caused him to miss the Preakness.

And Forte has already been in Elmont training ahead of the race.

"He's in excellent condition and doing well here at Belmont," trainer Todd Pletcher said, per Horse Racing Nation.

Forte isn't the only Pletcher-trained colt who may be in the Belmont. Among his other potential entries are Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns, which both ran the Kentucky Derby, as well as Prove Worthy.

So, the field for the Belmont is shaping up to be competitive, assuming the majority of these horses end up taking part. National Treasure could be the early favorite, considering his impressive performance at the Preakness.

But don't be surprised if National Treasure doesn't win two-thirds of the Triple Crown this year, because Forte was the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby for a reason.

He has won six of his seven career races, including each of the past five. He was victorious at the Florida Derby in April and was building momentum toward the Triple Crown season.

The Belmont will be a great opportunity for Forte to show what he's capable of on a big stage, and he'll outrace some strong competition to record his biggest win yet.