The field is set for the 2023 Belmont Stakes. The race takes place this Saturday, with post time set for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Forte, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby with a bruised foot, is the morning line favorite. Other top contenders include Tapit Trice, Angel of Empire and National Treasure, the winner of the Preakness Stakes.
Horses running at the 2023 Belmont Stakes
There are nine runners in the field at the Belmont Stakes, headlined by Forte, Tapit Trice, Angel of Empire and National Treasure, the winner of the 2023 Preakness Stakes.
Belmont Stakes odds
The post position draw and morning line odds for the 2023 Belmont Stakes came out on Tuesday, with Forte as the early favorite. Here’s a look at the complete field.
| Position | Horse | Opening odds | Trainer |
| 1 | Tapit Shoes | 20/1 | Brad Cox |
| 2 | Tapit Trice | 3/1 | Todd Pletcher |
| 3 | Arcangelo | 8/1 | Jena Antonucci |
| 4 | National Treasure | 5/1 | Bob Baffert |
| 5 | Il Miracolo | 30/1 | Antonio Sano |
| 6 | Forte | 5/2 | Todd Pletcher |
| 7 | Hit Show | 10/1 | Brad Cox |
| 8 | Angel of Empire | 7/2 | Brad Cox |
| 9 | Red Route One | 15/1 | Steve Asmussen |
Forte early favorite for 2023 Belmont Stakes
The early Kentucky Derby favorite was scratched on the morning of the race due to a bruised foot. During the run-up to the event, the 3-year-old booked several impressive wins, including at the Florida Derby, clocking a time of 1:49.37 over the 1 ⅛-mile race.
Forte is trained by Todd Pletcher. Irad Ortiz Jr. has been in the saddle for all seven of his career starts. Interestingly, Forte’s first start was at Belmont Park on May 27, 2022, a first-place finish in a five-furlong Maiden Special Weight race.
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Belmont Stakes field has several contenders
Following an entertaining Kentucky Derby, the field for the Preakness Stakes was a bit of a letdown. That’s not the case for the Belmont Stakes, as there are a number of viable candidates to take the final leg of this season’s Triple Crown.
National Treasure, the winner of the Preakness, will look to book another signature victory. After skipping the Kentucky Derby, he was the second choice on the board at post time for the Preakness, winning in a time of 1:55.12.
Tapit Trice has taken the opposite route to the Belmont Stakes: running in the Derby while skipping the Preakness. He finished in a disappointing seventh in Kentucky but has booked four wins in six starts, including a victory at the Blue Grass Stakes.
Angel of Empire finished third at the Derby, behind Mage and Two Phil’s, neither of whom will be in the field on Saturday. Angel of Empire has four victories in seven career outings, including a signature win at the Arkansas Derby.
Behind the top contenders, Arcangelo leads the way on morning line odds, followed by Hit Show and Red Route Run. The longest shots on the board are Tapit Shoes and Il Miracolo.
How to bet on the Belmont Stakes
Post time for the 2023 Belmont Stakes is 7:05 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage on Fox. In addition to wagering in person at Belmont Park, you can also place your bets with advance deposit wagering platforms, such as FanDuel Racing.
If you sign up at FanDuel Racing, you can get a $20 no sweat first bet on the Belmont Stakes.
