Study Guide: 2024 Belmont Stakes

Jun 04, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

A stellar field has turned out for the 156th Belmont S. (G1) at Saratoga this Saturday.

Seven of the 10 entrants are proven graded stakes winners, and for the first time since 2013, the Belmont features a rematch between Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winners. The 1 1/4-mile race is shaping up as an exciting conclusion to the 2024 Triple Crown.

Let's take a horse-by-horse tour through the field:

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Seize the Grey

Start(s): 10
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 3

Owner: MyRacehorse
Breeder: Jamm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (105) when winning the Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.
Total Earnings: $1,819,938

Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Smart Shopping
Color: Gray/roan

Seize the Grey has come to hand impressively in recent starts, taking the Pat Day Mile (G2) before wiring the Preakness (G1) by 2 1/4 lengths over Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan. Who's to say Seize the Grey won't lead all the way again in the Belmont? Drawing the rail sets the stage for another pacesetting trip, and his 105 Brisnet Speed rating from the Preakness looks strong against the Belmont field. Don't underestimate this red-hot colt.

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Resilience

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman
Breeder: Pam and Martin Wygod
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (104) when winning the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $494,630

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Meadowsweet
Color: Bay

Wood Memorial (G2) winner Resilience launched a strong challenge around the final turn of the Kentucky Derby, advancing to second place before flattening out to finish sixth. He stayed closer to a hot early pace than many of the other top finishers and has a chance to challenge if he times his run better in the Belmont.

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Mystik Dan

Start(s): 8
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4 G Racing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing second in the Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.
Total Earnings: $4,141,360

Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma'am
Color: Bay

Mystik Dan worked out a perfect ground-saving trip to win the Kentucky Derby by a nose over Sierra Leone, then saved ground again on his way to finishing a good second in the Preakness. Mystik Dan will have every chance to reach the rail while breaking from post 3 in the Belmont, and the consistency he's shown against tough competition this spring suggests a top-three finish is within reach.

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The Wine Steward

Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Paradise Farms Corp and David Staudacher
Breeder: Sequel Thoroughbreds and Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning the Funny Cide S. at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $467,260

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Call to Service
Color: Bay

The Wine Steward has finished second in three straight graded stakes, most recently missing by three-quarters of a length in the Peter Pan (G3). But it's worth noting he's 3-for-3 in sprints and 0-for-3 in routes, and he's lost ground from the eighth pole to the finish line in all three of his route races, so stretching out over 1 1/4 miles is at least a small question mark.

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Antiquarian

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Centennial Farms
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (95) when finishing sixth in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $173,000

Sire: Preservationist
Dam: Lifetime Memory
Color: Chestnut

The improving Antiquarian battled gamely to defeat The Wine Steward in the Peter Pan (G3). The Peter Pan is an important steppingstone to the Belmont, but Antiquarian's career-best 95 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against Saturday's field. He'll need another step forward to win the third leg of the Triple Crown.

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Dornoch

Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $552,275

Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay

Dornoch is 3-for-3 when setting the pace and 0-for-4 when beaten to the early lead. He's a tough competitor on his best day, counting victories in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Remsen (G2) on his record, so if he's able to beat Seize the Grey to the lead in the Belmont, there's a chance Dornoch will rebound in a big way.

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Protective

Start(s): 4
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Alpha Delta Stables
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (100) when finishing third in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $121,920

Sire: Medaglia d'Oro
Dam: Grace Hall
Color: Dark bay/brown

Although Protective has yet to win a race, he's never finished out of the top three, even while competing in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Peter Pan (G3). He'll need a step forward to turn the tables on rivals like Resilience, Antiquarian, and The Wine Steward, but Protective has the pedigree to shine over 1 1/4 miles and may have upside for improvement.

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Honor Marie

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Ribble Farms, Michael H. Eiserman, Earl I. Silver, Kenneth E. Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein
Breeder: Royce Pulliam
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $526,175

Sire: Honor Code
Dam: Dame Marie
Color: Bay

Deep-closing Honor Marie rallied from last place to finish eighth in the Kentucky Derby, one start after snatching runner-up honors in the Louisiana Derby (G2). The Belmont distance is within his wheelhouse from a pedigree standpoint, but there's a chance Honor Marie's running style will leave him with a lot of work to do down the homestretch.

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Sierra Leone

Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, and Peter M. Brant.
Breeder: Debby M. Oxley
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $1,918,000

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Heavenly Love
Color: Dark bay/brown

Sierra Leone ran a giant race in the Kentucky Derby, rallying from a dozen lengths off the pace to finish second by a nose. Considering he raced wider than the ground-saving winner Mystik Dan, this was an impressive performance. But Sierra Leone was lugging in down the homestretch, as he's shown a tendency to do throughout his career, and like Honor Marie he must avoid falling too far off the Belmont pace in order to have the best shot at winning.

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Mindframe

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables
Breeder: R. Larry Johnson
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (106) when winning his debut at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $87,360

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Walk of Stars
Color: Dark bay/brown

Mindframe is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts, dominating a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by 13 3/4 lengths before wiring a Churchill Downs $100,000 allowance optional claimer by 7 1/2 lengths. There's clearly a world of talent here, and Mindframe stacks up well against the Belmont field from a Brisnet Speed rating standpoint, but he secured a very easy lead in his Churchill victory and will face much tougher competition at Saratoga. The jump up in class is an obstacle to overcome.