By US Racing Team
The $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) is the final leg of the Triple Crown. The 155th running of the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion” is Saturday, June 10. US Racing will be publishing profiles on all the contenders, including updated versions with odds and post-positions following the gate draw on Tuesday, June 6.
2023 Belmont Stakes Entries
HIT SHOW
Beaten a nose by 59-1 longshot Lord Miles in the Wood Memorial, there was reason to believe Hit Show had a chance in the Kentucky Derby.
He did, too, moving into contention with a quarter mile to go but flattened out in the stretch and finished fifth (and still earned $90,000).
After bypassing the Preakness and then posting credible workouts at Churchill Downs since the May 6 Derby, trainer Brad Cox figured, why not try the Belmont Stakes?
The trainer is 1-for-1 in the final leg of the Triple Crown (Essential Quality won in 2021), and now Cox will have three chances for a second victory in the “Test of the Champion.”
His other contenders are Angel of Empire and Tapit Shoes. Hit Show, winner of the Withers at Aqueduct back in February, has won three of six races for owners Gary and Mary West.
After the Derby, Cox said Hit Show’s jockey Manny Franco expressed confident the colt might fit in well in the Belmont.
“Manny made the comment, when he got off him, this could be a Belmont horse,’’ Cox said. “I thought, well, let’s send him to Belmont. And if he runs well, let’s take a swing. He is a horse that handles the surface, kind of the deeper, maybe sandier tracks so I’m hopeful that he will be able to handle that Belmont track.
He actually trained at Belmont, on the training track a little bit this winter. So, he has been there. And listen, I thought he ran a good race in the Derby … He needs to move forward. And if he does, we’ll definitely be a factor.”
2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders: Hit Show
Post position: 7
Odds: 10-1
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Manny Franco
Owner: Gary and Mary West
Career record: 6-3-1-0
Career earnings: $494,375
Best Equibase speed figure: 99
Pedigree: Candy Ride-Actress, by Tapit
Color: Gray
Running style: Stalker
Notes: Manny Franco is set for his fourth Belmont ride – he won aboard Tiz the Law in 2020, finished seventh aboard Overtook in 2021 and third with Skippylongstocking in 2022.
2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders, Odds and Post Positions
| PP | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tapit Shoes | 3-1 | Brad H. Cox | Jose Ortiz |
| 2 | Tapit Trice | 3-1 | Todd A. Pletcher | Luis Saez |
| 3 | Arcangelo | 8-1 | Jena M. Antonucci | Javier Castellano |
| 4 | National Treasure | 5-1 | Bob Baffert | John R. Velazquez |
| 5 | Il Miracolo | 30-1 | Antonio Sano | Marcos Meneses |
| 6 | Forte | 5-2 | Todd A. Pletcher | Irad Ortiz, Jr. |
| 7 | Hit Show | 10-1 | Brad H. Cox | Manuel Franco |
| 8 | Angel of Empire | 7-2 | Brad H. Cox | Flavien Prat |
| 9 | Red Route One | 15-1 | Steve M. Asmussen | Joel Rosario |