Belmont Stakes TV Schedule 2016: NBC TV Info, Start Time and Race Live Stream
The Belmont Stakes won't result in a Triple Crown. It will draw some intrigue from the betting world, however.
Before American Pharoah's victorious run last year, the betting favorite hadn't been the first to cross the finish line at New York's race track since 2005.
Exaggerator, the winner of the Preakness Stakes and runner-up to the Kentucky Derby, comes into Saturday's race as a 5-4 overwhelming favorite. That must be due in large part to Nyquist deciding to back out of the race at the Big Apple.
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| Exaggerator #11 | 5-4 |
| Stradivari #5 | 7-1 |
| Suddenbreakingnews #4 | 7-1 |
| Cherry Wine #3 | 8-1 |
| Destin #2 | 9-1 |
| Brody's Cause #12 | 14-1 |
| Governor Malibu #1 | 14-1 |
| Lani #10 | 16-1 |
| Creator #13 | 16-1 |
| Gettysburg #6 | 40-1 |
| Seeking the Soul #7 | 40-1 |
| Forever d'Oro #8 | 40-1 |
| Trojan Nation #9 | 40-1 |
Belmont Stakes TV Information
When: Saturday, June 11
Where: Belmont Park, New York
Time: Coverage from 5-7 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
If Nyquist raced the Belmont, Exaggerator would not have been such an outstanding favorite. With the Kentucky Derby winner bowing out, and its Triple Crown chances dashed, it should be an easy race to victory for Exaggerator.
The keyword is "should."
Mike Dempsey of Odds Shark noted Afleet Alex was the last horse prior to American Pharoah to be the betting favorite at Belmont and win the race. Afleet Alex was a 6-5 favorite at that time.
Why there may not be faith in the betting favorite taking home the top prize could have something to do with the field filled with rested horses.
The Belmont Stakes field features six horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby, including Exaggerator. The other four backed out of the Preakness. There's some extra rest that could benefit Suddenbreakingnews, Destin, Trojan Nation, Creator and Brody's Cause.
New York's race course measures out 1 ½ miles. That's a long way for horses on nearly two weeks' rest. While Exaggerator has ran well, the thought of fatigue has to creep in at some point.
“Three Grade 1 races in five weeks is not normal, but he’s handled it like a piece of cake,” said Exaggerator's trainer Keith Desormeaux, per Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form.
The difference between Exaggerator and the other horses, other than rest, is Exaggerator showed over the last month that it can handle those long tracks. Kent Desormeaux raced a nearly perfect race in the Preakness. He adjusted his game plan from the Kentucky Derby, going with a more fluid and consistent pace at Pimlico.
That's the kind of race Exaggerator needs to run on Saturday to secure two-thirds of the Triple Crown.
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