Before American Pharoah won the Triple Crown of North American thoroughbred racing in 2015, the betting narrative was pretty much set in stone: It’s too hard. Winning the Kentucky Derby is difficult enough, but then you have just two weeks before the Preakness Stakes, and three weeks from there until the Belmont Stakes. Horses aren’t supposed to run that often in this day and age.
This year’s results have reminded everyone just how precious the Triple Crown is. Always Dreaming won the 2017 Kentucky Derby, but it was Cloud Computing (12/1 on the morning line) pulling off the Preakness upset after skipping the Derby. Will another “shooter” prevail at the 2017 Belmont Stakes? June 10 is just around the corner, and there are more question marks than answers at this point, but let’s take an early look at some of the horses who are considered probable at press time to show up.
Classic Empire
2/1 Odds
The Belmont favorite on the futures market after losing the Preakness by a head. Trainer Marc Casse says he’ll enter Classic Empire unless something comes up; Casse was happy with how things went at the Preakness despite the loss to Cloud Computing. It doesn’t look like Always Dreaming will challenge him this time.
Epicharis
9/2 Odds
Won the Japanese leg of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but his handlers declined the invitation, with an eye on taking down the Belmont instead. Finished second to Thunder Snow at the Grade 2 UAE Derby. Should draw considerable online betting from overseas.
Lookin at Lee
5/1 Odds
Very likely to join Classic Empire as the only two horses to appear in all three Triple Crown races this year. Finished second to Always Dreaming at the Derby and fourth at the Preakness. Has appeared on superfectas in eight of nine races since breaking his maiden last July.
Senior Investment
8/1 Odds
Snuck in for third place at the Preakness after winning the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes.
Gormley
12/1 Odds
Skipped the Preakness after finishing ninth at the Derby. Won both the Grade 3 Sham Stakes and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
Irap
14/1 Odds
After taking down the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes, Irap managed only 18th at the Kentucky Derby, then skipped the Preakness.
Twisted Tom
25/1 Odds
Trainer Chad Brown wasn’t planning on bringing Cloud Computing to Belmont Park, and that could still be the plan, but this lightly-raced gelding has been saved specifically for the Belmont after winning the Federico Tesio in late April.
*Odds as of May 24, 2017