After spoiling Nyquist’s Triple Crown attempt nearly three weeks earlier, Exaggerator will break from the 11th post at the 2016 Belmont Stakes on Saturday in New York.
Belmont Stakes 2016 post positions: Favorite Exaggerator will start near the outside
And his jockey says that’s quite all right.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
More often than not, horses starting on the outside have failed to win the 1-1/2 mile race, while the inside and middle spots have proven to be favorable. That did not bother Exaggerator’s jockey, Kent Desormeaux, and maybe it shouldn’t after the 2013 and 2014 winners, Palice Malice and Tonalist, started in 12th and 11th, respectively.
“I think it’s a wonderful post position. I can’t see any horse that’ll cross over on him,” Desormeux said after the draw. “I think I’ll be able to establish that position preferably without even getting a grain of sand in his face.”
“We’re going to let Exaggerator get comfortable and wherever it is, is where it’s going to be,” Desormeaux added. “If I could have a dream run ... I dream him forwardly placed and just being dreamingly able to decide when to pull the trigger.”
Exaggerator, trained by Kent’s brother, Keith Desormeux, was set at 9-5 morning line odds. He’ll be going for his sixth career victory and the third of his 3-year-old season after taking the Preakness in May and Santa Anita Derby in April.
Most horses in the field will be familiar to them, after racing either in prep races for the Triple Crown season or either the Kentucky Derby or Preakness themselves. Lani is the only other competitor from both the Derby and the Preakness, and the Japanese-trained horse and winner of the UAE Derby in Dubai will start one position over at 10th.
Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine, trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Corey Lanerie, is set to open in the third position and was set at 8-1 odds. Stradivari, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, will beak from the fifth position after finishing fourth at the Preakness. He was given the second-best odds at 5-1.
Todd Pletcher’s other charge, Destin (6-1 odds), will open at No. 2. Governor Malibu drew the inside post, and Creator will open on the outside.
Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will skip the race after suffering from a fever and high white blood cell count after the Preakness.
The 148th Belmont Stakes will go to the gate at approximately 6:32 p.m. ET and can be viewed on NBC. Online, you can stream the race using NBC Sports Live Extra.
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