Belmont Stakes 2013 Entries: Top Contenders to Bet Big in Triple Crown Race

The 2013 Belmont Stakes is ramping up to be the most exciting of the three Triple Crown races this year.

Not only will it feature the Kentucky Derby-winning Orb going head-to-head with Preakness Stakes-spoiler Oxbow but also a handful of other contenders that have a real chance to add a new face to the winner’s circle at the conclusion of the race.

Let’s take a look at some of these potential victors that are worth betting big and should certainly hit the board Saturday.

 

2013 Belmont Stakes | Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y. | Purse: $1 Million | Grade I | Saturday, June 8 | Distance: 12 furlongs | Post Time: 6:20 p.m. ET | Watch Live on NBC | Live Stream on NBC Sports

Post Positions, Complete Field and Updated Odds

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Morning Line
1	Frac Daddy	K. McPeek	A. Garcia	30-1
2	Freedom Child	T. Albertrani	L. Saez	8-1
3	Overanalyze	T. Pletcher	J. Velazquez	12-1
4	Giant Finish	A. Dutrow	E. Prado	30-1
5	Orb	C. McGaughey III	J. Rosario	3-1
6	Incognito	K. McLaughlin	I. Ortiz Jr.	20-1
7	Oxbow	D.W. Lukas	G. Stevens	5-1
8	Midnight Taboo	T. Pletcher	G. Gomez	30-1
9	Revolutionary	T. Pletcher	J. Castellano	9-2
10	Will Take Charge	D.W. Lukas	J. Court	20-1
11	Vyjack	R. Rodriguez	J. Lea	20-1
12	Palace Malice	T. Pletcher	M. Smith	15-1
13	Unlimited Budget (f)	T. Pletcher	R. Napravnik	8-1
14	Golden Soul	D. Stewart	R. Albarado	10-1

Odds and post position courtesy of Nailah E.Timberlake of NYRA.

Orb (3-1)

After winning an epic slosh through the slop in the Run for the Roses, Orb was saddled with the No. 1 post at the Preakness and ran out of track well before he could catch Oxbow, who ran a wire-to-wire victory.

Considering the track at Pimlico is only 9.5-furlongs, Orb needed to come out of the gate stronger and leave nothing in the tank after the turn. He simply wasn’t able to accomplish that, but it doesn’t mean he’s not an ideal Belmont contender.

Due to its 12-furlong distance, this race is known as the Test of Champions and challenges competitors to not only run fast but also be able to do it for a mile and a half. A sprinter like Oxbow isn’t going to be able to maintain that pace for the duration, as Orb will use his second wind to pass him down the stretch.

Don’t be surprised if Orb surges from the back of the 14-horse pack and slingshots his way up in time to cross the finish line at or near the top.

 

Revolutionary (9-2)

Jockey Calvin Borel tried to take Revolutionary up the rail beneath the Twin Spires last month but could not catch Orb and fell just short at the finish line.

Using that third-place showing as motivation, trainer Todd Pletcher opted to withhold this colt from the Preakness and instead prepare him for Belmont.

While Borel is out and Javier Castellano is in as the rider, the strategy will remain the same Saturday. Expect Revolutionary to take a stalking position just off the lead and use his immense stamina to sprint when everyone else is jogging down the stretch.

With two more furlongs to work with in Elmont, N.Y., there’s plenty of space and opportunity for Revolutionary to close the gap and surge into first.

 

Unlimited Budget (8-1)

Along with having one of the better storylines in this event, Unlimited Budget has the pure physical makeup and endurance required to win this long race.

This filly will be ridden by Rosie Napravnik, who is one of the best young jockeys in the world and is looking to become just the second female to win a Triple Crown race—the first to do so aboard a filly.

These ladies could definitely play spoiler to the hopeful colts in the field, as Unlimited Budget is one of the bigger thoroughbreds in this race and has plenty of positive experience at 10 furlongs, making 12 a reasonable goal this weekend.

It’ll be close, but there’s no reason to doubt that Napravnik and Unlimited Budget will be right at the front of the pack and within striking distance of the leader with the finish line in sight.