Belmont Stakes 2014 Post Positions: Slot Info, Predictions for Finishing Order
California Chrome drew a favorable post position for the 2014 Belmont Stakes as everything continues to go his way.
The 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion will start the third and final leg of the Triple Crown in slot No. 2. Since 1905, 11 horses starting there have claimed the Belmont crown. It's the fifth-most productive post position in Belmont history, so there's no negative trend the favorite needs to buck.
Here's the rest of the slot info, as well a finishing order projection.
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| 1 | Medal Count |
| 2 | California Chrome |
| 3 | Matterhorn |
| 4 | Commanding Curve |
| 5 | Ride On Curlin |
| 6 | Matuszak |
| 7 | Samraat |
| 8 | Commissioner |
| 9 | Wicked Strong |
| 10 | General a Rod |
| 11 | Tonalist |
Predictions for Finishing Order
Odds are according to belmontstakes.com.
11. Matuszak, 30-1
Matuszak lost to Kid Cruz in April at the Federico Tesio Stakes. Kid Cruz lost by 15 3/4 lengths in the Preakness.
10. Matterhorn, 30-1
This report from Tim Wilkin of the Albany Times Union explains why Matterhorn, as well as Commissioner, will trail the top contenders on Saturday.
9. General a Rod, 20-1
Only two horses have ever won the Belmont starting in post position No. 10. General a Rod also finished eight lengths behind the leader in the Preakness and 8 1/4 back in the Derby.
8. Commissioner, 20-1
As if the odds weren't already against the Triple Crown first-timer, Commissioner didn't draw the greatest post position. Only six horses have won the Belmont from slot No. 8.
7. Samraat, 20-1
Samraat finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby before sitting out the Preakness. As the odds suggest, though, he's unlikely to challenge California Chrome.
6. Tonalist, 8-1
Tonalist enters with the highest odds out of any horse that hasn't competed in the Triple Crown this season. Instead, he won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park in May.
To win, though, Tonalist would have to become only the third horse ever to win the Belmont out of post position No. 11.
5. Wicked Strong, 6-1
Oddsmakers pegged Wicked Strong as the top contender to California Chrome's title, but he only finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
While Wicked Strong finished ahead of Ride On Curlin, it was only by a single length, compared to the four by which Commanding Curve beat Wicked Strong.
4. Medal Count, 20-1
No one left the post position draw a bigger winner than Medal Count.
Twenty-three times has a Belmont champion galloped out of the starting gate from post No. 1. That's eight more times than any other position.
3. Ride On Curlin, 12-1
Ride On Curlin finished second in the Preakness Stakes. After entering Wednesday with the second-best odds to win the Belmont to California Chrome, Ride On Curlin now also finds himself an underdog to Wicked Strong and Tonalist.
However, 14 horses have won the Belmont in post position No. 5 since 1905. That's more than twice as many victories as from the slots Wicked Strong and Tonalist are in combined.
2. Commanding Curve, 15-1
Commanding Curve finished second in the Kentucky Derby. After sitting out the Preakness, he's well-rested and ready to find another top-three finish.
Ride On Curlin enters with higher odds, but Commanding Curve finished five lengths ahead of him in the Derby. And with Ride On Curlin having competed in the Preakness, Commanding Curve is less likely to battle fatigue.
1. California Chrome, 3-5
California Chrome has proven the Belmont is his race to lose. Weather or fatigue is more likely to threaten his Triple Crown pursuits than another horse.
He's never raced on a wet track. But weather.com projects a 0.0 percent chance of rain on Saturday in Elmont, New York. And fatigue seems nearly as improbable after the way Daily Racing Form correspondents Mike Welsch and David Grening raved about him last week.
California Chrome will be the first Triple Crown champion since 1978.
David Daniels is a columnist at Bleacher Report and editor at Wade-O Radio.
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