Justify, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champ, is ever closer to becoming just the second horse since 1978 to win the Triple Crown. But how vulnerable is he ahead of the Belmont?
After waiting nearly four decades to witness history with American Pharoah completing the Triple Crown in 2015, now his trainer Bob Baffert is looking to do it again just three years later with Justify.
There have been 35 horses that have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and only a dozen has been good enough to add the Belmont.
Those who came up short include Spectacular Bid, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Real Quiet, Silver Charm, Smarty Jones, Big Brown and California Chrome.
It appears that Preakness runner-up Bravazo and third-place finisher Tenfold will be back to try to turn the tables on Justify, and several foes he beat in Louisville that skipped the Preakness will be back.
Hofburg and Vino Rosso were seventh and ninth respectively in the Kentucky Derby and both look as if they can move forward with the extra ground and the five-week break
The undefeated colt won the Kentucky Derby by two and a half lengths and is currently the favorite for the Belmont Stakes.
Gronkowski will make his U.S. debut at Belmont Park. A winner of four of his six starts, the colt is listed at odds of 25-1.
Free Drop Billy has been confirmed for the Belmont Stakes, but he has been a disappointment this year and was 16th in the Kentucky Derby. He is listed at 50-1 in Belmont wagering.
2018 Belmont Stakes Odds
Justify 4-5
Hofburg 4-1
Bravazo 7-1
Vino Rosso 8-1
Tenfold 10-1
Blended Citizen 14-1
Gronkowski 25-1
Noble Indy 33-1
Free Drop Billy 50-1