Belmont Stakes 2017: Epicharis still lame as race approaches

Epicharis did not get on the track Friday morning, just a day before the 2017 Belmont Stakes is run Saturday night in New York. However his connections still insist the colt will run in the $1.5 million, 1-1/2-mile race.

“Martin Panza, NYRA’s VP of racing, said the trainer of Epicharis was happy with his progress and was hopeful all would be well for a start on Saturday,” Daily Racing Form noted.

The Japanese horse was expected to bring a bit of star power and intrigue to a Belmont lacking for marketability. Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness Stakes winner Cloud Computing are both skipping the longest race of the Triple Crown season. Earlier this week, Classic Empire, who had been the top 2-year-old before suffering through bad luck this year, had to be pulled from the race with a hoof abscess.

With all that in mind, Epicharis was lured over from Japan. He had qualified for the Kentucky Derby by way of winning an automatic qualifier race in Japan last year. However, at that time his connections decided not to make the trip to the United States. Earlier this year, they did compete in the UAE Derby in Dubai, but were tagged with a runner-up finish in that race. That was 11 weeks ago and the last time Epicharis raced.

The incentive to come to America was not just the $1.5 million prize, but an additional $1 million on top of it available if Epicharis won. With good form and with weak competition, Epicharis was given the second-best morning line odds after post positions were drawn on Wednesday, 4/1.

However he was not able to get on the track Wednesday. He was given an anti-inflammatory for lameness in his right front hoof as well as a glue-on shoe. Both Thursday and Friday, he was also held out of workouts. Friday he walked around a bit and was having his foot soaked in ice water.

Irish War Cry is the morning line favorite at 7/2 odds. The Belmont is set to go off at 6:37 p.m. You can watch on NBC or stream it on NBCSports.com.