Belmont Stakes 2014 Post Positions: Field Predictions, Latest Odds, Jockey Info
Post positions and all the information fans need for the 2014 Belmont Stakes has been released.
The 146th running of the Belmont, the "Test of the Champion," will test champion California Chrome on Saturday, June 7. He won the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and has a chance to complete the first Triple Crown since 1978.
A dozen horses since then have made it just as far as California Chrome but failed to finish on the final leg of the Triple Crown. Here are the latest odds, jockey info and field predictions of whether California Chrome will be different than his dozen predecessors this weekend.
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| 1 | Medal Count | Robby Albarado | 20-1 |
| 2 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza | 3-5 |
| 3 | Matterhorn | Joe Bravo | 30-1 |
| 4 | Commanding Curve | Shaun Bridgmohan | 15-1 |
| 5 | Ride On Curlin | John Velazquez | 12-1 |
| 6 | Matuszak | Mike Smitih | 30-1 |
| 7 | Samraat | Jose Ortiz | 20-1 |
| 8 | Commissioner | Javier Castellano | 20-1 |
| 9 | Wicked Strong | Rajiv Maragh | 6-1 |
| 10 | General a Rod | Rosie Napravnik | 20-1 |
| 11 | Tonalist | Joel Rosario | 8-1 |
Field Predictions
California Chrome enters the Belmont a heavy favorite, and he deserves it. He was favored to win the third leg of the Triple Crown before he even won the second. That's how dominant he's performed this season.
Expect California Chrome to live up to the hype that he's built and win the Triple Crown. Second place is much more of a toss-up, though.
Wicked Strong is the favorite to finish second and Tonalist third, but don't expect those odds to hold.
They were dealt post positions on Wednesday that will make it difficult to pass Preakness runner-up Ride On Curlin. Over twice as many Belmont victories have come out of post position No. 5 than Nos. 9 and 11.
The favorite to finish second, though, should be the Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve. Despite outpacing Wicked Strong by four lengths in the Derby and Ride On Curlin by five, he's an underdog to both of them for Saturday's event at Belmont Park.
That makes about as much sense as anyone betting against California Chrome, especially when Commanding Curve also starts in a more historically kind post position than Wicked Strong.
California Chrome first, Commanding Curve second, Ride On Curlin third—count on it.
David Daniels is a columnist at Bleacher Report and editor at Wade-O Radio.
