NEW YORK (AP) – Even without a Triple Crown on the line, there’s always a slice of history waiting at the finish line of the Belmont Stakes.
Where Exaggerator ends up in the record books will be determined just before 7 p.m. on Saturday, when the Preakness winner takes on a dozen rivals in the 148th running of the final leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park.
A year ago, American Pharoah captured racing’s ultimate prize by becoming the first horse in 37 years to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.
Nyquist beat Exaggerator by 1 1/2 lengths in the Derby last month, but the determined runner-up came back two weeks later and splashed his way to victory in the Preakness. Nyquist is skipping the Belmont following a recent fever, so Exaggerator comes into the 1 1/2-mile race known as the “Test of the Champion” as the early 9-5 favorite leaving from the No. 11 post.
With Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux aboard the 3-year-old colt trained by his brother, Keith, Exaggerator will attempt to become the 12th horse to take the Preakness and Belmont after falling short in the Derby, and first since Afleet Alex in 2005.