By US Racing Team
2023 Belmont Stakes Entries
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.
As expected, there was not much early pace in the Preakness (G1) on May 20, so the race did not go well for a deep closer like Red Route One.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen was quick to point that out after the race and just as quick to look forward to the Belmont Stakes.
“No pace first time by (and) Joel did all he could,’’ Asmussen said after Red Route One (with Joel Rosario aboard) finished fourth, less than five lengths behind front-running winner National Treasure. “He just was steady to the wire … It appears he stays all day.”
With the 1 ½-mile Belmont 5/16ths of a mile longer than the Preakness, the race could set up well for this son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner.
Winner of the Bath House Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 22 – his only win in five starts in 2023 – Red Route One worked 4 furlongs in 50.85 seconds at Belmont Park on May 29.
“It was good. He seems like he got something out of it,” Asmussen’s Belmont-based assistant Toby Sheets said.
While the colt’s record is far from dazzling — two wins in 10 starts — he has run in strong company. He finished eighth behind Angel of Empire in the Arkansas Derby (G1); second to Confidence Game in the Rebel (G2); second to Arabian Knight in the Southwest (G3), and fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).
2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders: Red Route One
Post position: 9
Odds: 15-1
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC (Ron Winchell)
Career record: 10-2-2-1
Career earnings: $732,525
Best Equibase speed figure: 102
Pedigree: Gun Runner-Red House, by Tapit
Color: Chestnut
Running Style: Closer
Notes: Asmussen won the 2016 Belmont with Creator … Red Route One has finished on the board in three grades stakes – second in the Rebel (G2) and Southwest (G3), and third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) as a 2-year-old … This will be the ninth Belmont starter for Asmussen and since 2020, when Pneumatic ran fourth and Jungle Runner 10th.
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 |