There’s no stopping the 2020 Belmont Stakes from happening, as it is all set for June 20. Instead of being the traditional last leg of the Triple Crown, this year’s Belmont Stakes will be the first. With some early favorites such as Maxfield bowing out, there is a prime opportunity for a sleeper to sneak through the side door for a win. The horses below are some of the best sleepers to watch out for in this upcoming race in New York.
It took a win by Max Player at the Grade 3 Withers in Aqueduct for owner George E. Hall to get convinced that the three-year-old colt is ready for the Triple Crown big stage. It was the second win of Max Player in three career starts, and the first race, too, beyond the Maiden Special Weight level. Max Player went second in his debut in November of last year then broke his maiden a month later at Philadelphia Park. Max Player’s trainer, Linda Rice, is the first woman to win a training title at Saratoga (or any major race for that matter) when he achieved that feat in 2009. Saddling Max Player is Dylan Davis, who set a new New York Racing Association record last February when he won six races on a single card.
Gouverneur Morris has never won a race in the graded stakes level, but has two victories against allowance competition. Overall, Gouverneur Morris has failed to show just once in five races, and that was when he finished fourth at the Grade 1 Florida Derby last March. After that, Gouverneur Morris finished third at the Arkansas Grade 1 stakes won by previous 2020 Belmont Stakes favorite Charlatan (will miss the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby due to injury). If bettors need more encouragement to bet on Gouverneur Morris, it’s worth noting that the colt is being trained by Todd Pletcher, who has prepared Belmont Stakes winners before, in 2007 with Rags to Riches and in 2013 with Palace Malice.
Shivaree is one of the most experienced horses among those expected to race at the 2020 Belmont Stakes. The three-year-old colt has raced 10 times to date. In his last race, Shivaree finished second at the Grade 1 Florida Derby, just behind 2020 Belmont Stakes favorite, Tiz The Law. It was Shivaree’s third second-place showing in a row. That performance at the Florida Derby speaks a lot about how intriguing an option Shivaree is. Trainer Ralph Nicks was full of praises for Shivaree following the horse’s podium finish at the Florida Derby, saying that the colt “just keeps on progressing.” Considering that Shivaree hasn’t finished worse than second in any of his last six races, Nicks’ assessment of the horse only seemed apt.
