Belmont Stakes 2023 Horses and Jockeys with Best Chance at Elmont Race

There is no Triple Crown title on the line this weekend in Elmont, New York, but the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes is still expected to be a thriller.

The first two legs of the Triple Crown series have been fantastic. Mage won the Kentucky Derby as a 15-1 long shot, while National Treasure held off a strong push by Blazing Sevens to win the Preakness by a very slim margin.

National Treasure is the only one of that trio to be taking part in this weekend's race, and jockey John Velazquez will face an entirely new challenge at Belmont Park.

At 1½ miles, the track is the longest of the Triple Crown series and will favor some horses, and their respective race teams, more than others. The race is scheduled for Saturday evening, though smoke from Canadian wildfires could delay the event.

The New York Racing Association canceled Thursday's races at Belmont due to concerns over air quality.

Below you'll find the latest scheduling information and odds, along with a look at the horses and riders with the best chances of winning it all in Elmont.

When: Saturday, June 10

Where: Belmont Park in Elmont, New York

Post Time: 7:02 p.m. ET

Race Length: 1½ miles (12 furlongs)

Prize Pool: $1.5 million ($800,000 to winner)

TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports app

1. Tapit Shoes (20-1)

Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz

2. Tapit Trice (3-1)

Jockey: Luis Saez

3. Arcangelo (8-1)

Jockey: Javier Castellano

4. National Treasure (5-1)

Jockey: John R. Velazquez

5. Il Miracolo (30-1)

Jockey: Marcos Meneses

6. Forte (5-2)

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

7. Hit Show (10-1)

Jockey: Manuel Franco

8. Angel of Empire (7-2)

Jockey: Flavien Prat

9. Red Route One (15-1)

Jockey: Joel Rosario

*Morning-line odds via BelmontStakes.com

Forte is the early favorite, even over Preakness winner National Treasure. There are a couple of likely reasons for this, the most prevalent being that Forte was the Kentucky Derby favorite before being scratched with a foot injury.

The Todd Pletcher-trained colt had won five consecutive races heading into the Derby and might now be vying for the Triple Crown if he had been healthy last month. As owner Mike Repole pointed out, Forte had bested Mage in their previous two encounters.

"I still think he’s the best 3-year-old by far,” Repole said at Tuesday's post-position draw, per Stephen Edelson of the Asbury Park Press. “It was tough to scratch him, watching the horse he beat (Mage) the last two times win the Derby."

Forte also has an edge with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who knows how to handle the Belmont track well. He won last year's Belmont atop Mo Donegal.

Tapit Trice is another favorite with a jockey who knows how to win in Elmont. Luis Saez came home first in 2021 with Essential Quality.

It's worth noting, though, that while Tapit Trice won four straight races before the Kentucky Derby, he only finished seventh on the 1 ¼-mile track. A longer course doesn't necessarily favor Pletcher's second contender.

Jockey Flavien Prat has never won the Belmont but won the 2019 Kentucky Derby with Country House, the 2021 Preakness with Rombauer and had a second-place finish at the 2021 Belmont with Hot Rod Charlie. He might finally get his Belmont victory this weekend with Angel of Empire.

Angel of Empire finished third at Churchill Downs behind Mage and Two Phil's—and neither horse will be in the field in Elmont.

Bettors looking for a bit more of a long shot should consider Hit Show, one of three Brad H. Cox-trained horses, along with Angel of Empire and Tapit Shoes.

Hit Show finished fifth at the Kentucky Derby and will be guided by jockey Manuel Franco—another rider who has tasted victory at Belmont Park. He won the 2020 race on Tiz the Law.

Jose L. Ortiz won the 2017 Belmont Stakes with Tapwrit but has a dark horse in Tapit Shoes this year and an unfavorable breaking spot against the rail.

Velazquez and Joel Rosario have each won the Belmont twice, meaning it would be foolish to count out either National Treasure or Red Route One on Saturday.