2026 Belmont Stakes: The finalized field is officially set at a tight, elite group of 9 confirmed classic contenders.
2026 Belmont Stakes: Zero active contenders in the lineup carry a native local main track route win, completely neutralizing the lifetime track filter.
2026 Belmont Stakes: Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade is the established 2-1 morning-line favorite and will break from post position 4 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.
2026 Belmont Stakes: Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo (9-2) drew the outside post 9, targeting a second classic trophy completely fresh after skipping Baltimore.
2026 Belmont Stakes: Chief Wallabee sits as the strong 3-1 second choice from post 3; he enters off a closing fourth in Louisville for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
2026 Belmont Stakes: The presence of front-running threats Growth Equity (post 6) and Powershift (post 2) injects verified early speed into the tracking map.
2026 Belmont Stakes: West Coast invader Vitruvian Man (30-1) will trigger the action from the rail post 1, wielding a premium 9.8 OPI Pedigree Index.
2026 Belmont Stakes: The high-stakes post-position draw concluded live on Monday, June 1, locking in the official tactical corridors for all 9 runners.
2026 Belmont Stakes: Trainer Chad Brown holds a potent three-pronged attack featuring Peter Pan winner Growth Equity, Emerging Market (6-1), and Ottinho (20-1).
2026 Belmont Stakes: Florida Derby winner Commandment is a dangerous bounce-back candidate at 6-1 from post 7 with legendary rider John Velazquez taking the reins.
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2017 Florida Derby looks a lot like it did in 2011
Take a minute or so and watch the 2011 Florida Derby.
Looking back it’s hard to believe Shackleford was 60-1 that day. To Honor and Serve was there until the 1/4 pole. And Dialed In came from way off the pace to nail Shackleford in a final time of 1:50.07 as the 5-2 favorite.
In a lot of ways on paper, the 2017 Florida Derby looks like a repeat of the 2011 running. Except that this year it’s the sons of To Honor and Serve and Dialed In that will be making the trip around the 1 1/8 mile distance at Gulfstream.
And more likely than not it’ll be Gunnevera, the son of Dialed in, that will get the win in honor of his father. If he does, like his father before him, he will probably enter the starting gate as a lukewarm favorite to win in Kentucky on the first Saturday in May.
The field and final odds for the 2011 Florida Derby
2011 was a weird year for sure. To put it bluntly, it was a bad bunch.
With those points in mind, here’s a quick look at the 2017 Florida Derby
- State of Honor – Son of To Honor and Serve wore blinkers in his last two but they come off for this one. Only win was a maiden score over the synthetic at Woodbine going 7/8’s as the favorite. Perhaps his best race on paper what a head loss here in January in the Mucho Macho Man stakes going 1 mile. They’ll try the same strategy of sitting in behind Three Rules and try to hang on. Expect him to be there at the end but hard to see on top.
- Talk Logistics – Broke maiden going 5/8’s at Parx first time out. They’ve been pointing to this one and the extra 1/16th won’t hurt him but can’t see him making up 12 lengths on Gunnevera.
- Charlie the Greek – Only two lifetime wins were at Gulfstream when he could have been claimed for $25k or less. Was second to Always Dreaming two back at 83-1. But disappointed next time out at 2-1 off that one. Can’t see anyway that this guy can make up ground on any of the others in here.
- Always Dreaming – One of two entered by Pletcher and is the one that’s expected to go off back-to-back wins in his last two. Broke his maiden by 11 at Tampa time before last, then was a 4 length winner here going today’s distance. Was heavy favorite in both wins and sitting on two bullets in preparation for this. Obviously, Pletcher realizes this is a weak bunch sans Gunnevera so why not. Just wish that ‘Charlie’ would have won his last race.
- Quinientos – Hasn’t left South Florida in nine races garnering only victory in a 6f MSW in December. Was 6th in the FOY at 200-1. But hey, he gets a new rider in Montalvo for those who are “always dreaming.”
- Coleman Rocky – Maiden winner on turf at Aqueduct three back. Was 3rd last time out here in sloppy off the turf effort. Gets new rider in Ortiz who was aboard at Belmont in 6th place maiden voyage effort last October. Sire won this race in 2002 closing from fourth into a deadly fast pace set by the front-runners. Expect improvement but not enough to take this one down.
- Unbridled Holiday – Adds blinkers after third place finish behind Always Dreaming and Charlie the Greek in last. The second son of ’02 winner Harlan’s Holiday to go in here. Gets new rider in Juarez as Saez defects for the speedy Three Rules. Like the fact that he’s at least attempted the distance but can’t see him being the one from his last.
- Impressive Edge – The third son of Harlan’s Holiday to go in here. And has the best chance of upsetting this field despite not having a two-turn try under his belt. Expect him to be in second flight and on the move turning for home. Shot.
- Battalion Runner – Expected scratch.
- Three Rules – Has to go from the outside which will be to his demise as there’s just too much speed to his inside. Making his third start off the BC Juvenile layoff and sitting on a bullet. But that’s more tellingly beneficial for Gunnevera than for this guy.
- Gunnevera – The legit favorite in here off his last three which were impressive, including the second place finish in the Holy Bull which he should have won but got stopped. Added ground should suit him well and remember his pop won the 2011 running of this with a similar stalking style. Outside post no problem.
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