Belmont Stakes 2013: Top Picks for Triple Crown's Final Leg

Orb’s fourth-place finish at Preakness ensured there would be no Triple Crown winner in 2013. But the excitement of the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes is building nonetheless.

Several top horses are already in the fold. Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness Stakes champ Oxbow will likely be on hand for the race, according to Daily Race Form. More names could be added to the 14-horse field before race day on June 8.

Of all three of the premier races, Belmont’s 1.5-mile dirt track is the most demanding of horses of the Triple Crown events.

It’s a big test for jockeys as they will have to pace themselves and time their moves perfectly in order to make a strong push on the final furlong.

Endurance and skill definitely reign king at Belmont Park.

Oxbow

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ Preakness winner is slated as the top contender to win the Belmont Stakes, according to Horse Racing Nation rankings. Prior to Preakness, Lukas’ colt ran to a sixth-place finish in the mud at Churchill Downs.

It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of a previous race winner, but Oxbow’s sustained success makes him a definite top contender at Belmont.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will saddle up Oxbow yet again as they will likely do battle with Orb for the third consecutive race, according to AP reporting (via KBOI2.com).

It’s hard to imagine any other colt coming away with a win a Belmont after considering Lukas’ training, Stevens’ riding ability and Oxbow’s tenacity.

Revolutionary

There isn’t a top-flight race that trainer Todd Pletcher doesn’t have a horse in. Well, that was true until he didn’t field a horse at Preakness. After the majority of his five horses flopped at Churchill Downs he opted to recuperate and prepare for Belmont instead.

The Hall of Fame trainer has certainly come up short to this point of the Triple Crown, but he could finally add a victory with another impressive performance by Revolutionary at Belmont Park. After all, he finished third in the Kentucky Derby.

Horse Racing Nation ranks Pletcher’s top horse (of six potential entries) as the No. 2 contender of those committed or likely heading to Belmont Park.

Orb

Orb’s disappointing fourth-place finish at Preakness prompted concerns that the colt had an undisclosed injury. However, trainer Shug McGaughey doesn’t seem too worried.

McGaughey said Orb had no problems galloping around the track at Belmont Park on Thursday, according to AP reporting (via CBS New York).

A healthy Orb is a top contender despite the increase in race length. If you remember correctly, the colt stormed to a two-and-a-half lengths Kentucky Derby win in April, a longer race than Preakness.

There's no doubt his fourth-place finish there was a disappointment. But, as mentioned, Belmont is the longest of the three Triple Crown legs. The former was a sprint in which Orb got a bad shake on some bad early positioning.

He will have more time at Belmont to run a steady pace and make a late push as he did at Churchill Downs.