Belmont Stakes Field 2016: Post Positions, Odds and Predictions for All Horses

There's no reason to get turned off to the Triple Crown just because none of the colts will match what American Pharoah did a year ago.

With the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in the books, the Belmont Stakes takes center stage. This 1 ½-mile marathon is the true test of champions, and it is as much about strategy and will as it is about speed and talent.

Nyquist, the Kentucky Derby winner, did not make it to Belmont Park in New York, but Preakness winner Exaggerator did.

Exaggerator is the 9-5 favorite in the race, according to the Daily Racing Form, but it may be harder for him to win the Belmont than the Preakness. That race had the kind of pace that allowed him to make an explosive run to the lead at the crucial moment.

The Belmont Stakes does not appear to have the kind of speed in the field that would set up a memorable stretch run for a strong closer. However, Exaggerator is in wonderful form and is worthy of strong consideration once again.

Exaggerator will start out of Post No. 11, and jockey Kent Desormeaux was happy with that positioning. "I think it's a wonderful post position," Desormeaux told Jeremy Balan of Blood Horse. "I can't see any horses that will cross over on him. (We should be) able to establish position, preferably, without getting a grain of sand in his face."

Post	Horse	Odds	Predicted Finish
1	Governor Malibu	12-1	4th place
2	Destin	6-1	3rd place
3	Cherry Wine	8-1	Gets up at the wire, 1st place
4	Suddenbreakingnews	10-1	7th place
5	Stradivari	5-1	5th place
6	Gettysburg	30-1	9th place
7	Seeking The Soul	30-1	11th place
8	Forever d'Oro	30-1	13th place
9	Trojan Nation	30-1	10th place
10	Lani	20-1	12th place
11	Exaggerator	9-5	Heartbreak Holet, 2nd place
12	Brody's Cause	20-1	8th place
13	Creator	10-1	6th place

Stradivari, a 5-1 choice, should also be a contender. Stradivari finished fourth in the Preakness and did not run in the Kentucky Derby. He should be well-positioned with the No. 5 post, and trainer Todd Pletcher should have him ready to run a big race. 

Pletcher believes that running in the Preakness should be good for Stradivari's conditioning and it could set him up to run well at Belmont Park. "Stradivari, I think you can make a case that he was behind schedule a little bit leading into the Preakness and sometimes a race like that will move him forward," Pletcher told Blood Horse.

Pletcher is also training Destin, who will go into the No. 2 post as a 6-1 choice. Destin ran sixth in the Derby but he did not run in the Preakness, so he should be raring to go when the gates open up.

Destin got off to a poor start in the Derby, and Pletcher would like to see jockey Javier Castellano get him off to a much quicker and sharper start.

Long-shot players may want to consider Governor Malibu out of the No. 1 hole. This 12-1 shot did not run at Churchill Downs or Pimlico, but he did finish second in the Peter Pan, and that could set him up for a possible contending run here. 

Cherry Wine is another horse to consider in the Belmont Stakes. He finished second in the Preakness and got up in the final strides to get by Nyquist. While Exaggerator appears to be a somewhat stronger stretch runner, Cherry Wine could get up for second or possibly even win the race if the pace is faster than expected. Cherry Wine will go into the No. 3 post as an 8-1 shot.

Prediction

While this does not appear to be a great closer's race, look for a faster pace than many of the experts are expecting. One or two horses will try to make an early run for the lead, and the faster they get off, the better it will be for the closers.

We like Exaggerator to make another good run, but we think Cherry Wine will be even better. After Exaggerator gets the lead following the turn for home, Cherry Wine will turn it on and pass him just before the wire.

Look for Destin to get show money in the Belmont Stakes.