The COVID-19 pandemic has rearranged the traditional order of Triple Crown races. Instead of being the last leg, the Belmont Stakes will come in first, as it is all set to happen on June 20. But all that matters at this point is that the long awaited Triple Crown season is here. So which colt should you put your money on? Before your place your bets at the racebook be sure to check out the following preview of the race below.
Tiz The Law wants to rule the traditional third leg of the Triple Crown, and the odds are definitely favoring the son of Constitution. Tiz The Law has never finished worse than third place in any of his five races. He’s won both his races this year, topping the field at the Grade 3 Holy Bull last January then made the rest eat his dust at the Grade 1 Florida Derby late last March. Another reason why Tiz The Law is a betting favorite at the 2020 Belmont Stakes is the fact that he’s won there before. In just his second career race, Tiz The Law struggled at the start of last year’s Grade 1 Champagne race before winning it by four lengths. Tiz The Law is going to be helmed by jockey Manuel Franco, who has fond memories at Belmont Part, where he won the aforementioned race with Tiz The Law and the 1000th of his career back in 2018.
Dr Post has raced just three times so far, but the first time he raced beyond Maiden Special Weight level, the three-year-old colt impressed. Dr Post made his debut with a fourth-place finish at Belmont Park in July of 2019 then broke the win column last March with a victory at Gulfstream Park. Then he won again a month later at the Unbridled also at Gulfstream Park. While he didn’t win the first time he raced at Belmont Park, the fact that he’s ran there before and experienced the track should mean a lot with regards to his chances. Perhaps the biggest factor is Dr Post’s trainer, Todd Pletcher. Pletcher is a man who knows what it takes to win at Belmont Park, as he has had three wins there before with Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013, and Tapwrit in 2017.
Max Player was not originally slated to run at the 2020 Belmont Stakes, but after owner George E. Hall saw the three-year-old colt win the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct last February, he was instantly sold on the idea that the Belmont Stakes is where his horse should race next. Max Player debuted last November at Parx where he went runner-up. The horse then won its first race on second asking at Parx the following month. Max Player trainer Linda Rice admits that the horse is a little bit “inexperienced,” but believes that the relative simplicity of Belmont Park wouldn’t mean lack of experience wouldn’t be much of a factor for the colt.
Farmington Road has six races under his belt, though, three of those were Maiden Special Weight ones, as it took the three-year-old Colt three tries to break Maiden, which happened last January at Tampa Bay. Since then, Farmington Road has shown just once in three races, finishing fourth in the other two. In his last race, Farmington Road finished fourth at the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby last month. While success on the graded stakes level has been elusive, Farmington Road bettors can still hope for success, as the horse is being trained by three-time Belmont Stakes winner, Todd Pletcher.
