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Kentucky Derby runner-up, Bluegrass Cat, was made the favorite for Saturday’s $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, which drew a field of 12 3-year-olds.
Without Derby winner Barbaro and Preakness (gr. I) winner Bernardini in the race, New York Racing Association oddsmaker Eric Donovan went with trainer Todd Pletcher’s colt as the 3-1 morning-line choice Wednesday for the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Pletcher has another Belmont entry, the second favorite Sunriver. Winner of the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park on May 20, Sunriver was at 4-1 odds to win. Steppenwolfer, the third-place Derby finisher, was 9-2.
Bluegrass Cat, who finished 6 1/2 lengths behind Barbaro in the Derby, will leave from the No. 9 post in the 1 1/2-mile race. The colt will be ridden by John Velazquez, who returned last week after being sidelined since April 20 with a cracked shoulder blade and bruised ribs. Sunriver, with Rafael Bejarano aboard, drew the No. 2 post.
The rest of the field includes Wood Memorial winner Bob and John (5-1), followed by Jazil (10-1), High Finance (12-1), Deputy Glitters, Hemingway’s Key and Sacred Light (all at 15-1), Oh So Awesome (20-1) and Double Galore and Platinum Couple (both 30-1).
Bluegrass Cat, a son of Storm Cat owned by WinStar Farm, has four wins in eight career starts for earnings of $761,200.
The Belmont, which carries a winner’s purse of $600,000, will be run for the first time since 2000 without the Derby and Preakness winners.
Here’s the complete2006 Belmont Stakes Entries, post position, jockey and morning line odds:
PP. — HORSE — TRAINER — JOCKEY–ML ODDS
1–Platinum Couple, Joseph Lostritto, Jose Espinoza, 30-1
2 — Sunriver, Todd Pletcher, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1
3–Hemingway’s Key, Nick Zito, Jeremy Rose, 15-1
4–Bob and John, Bob Baffert, Garrett Gomez, 5-1
5–High Finance, Rick Violette, Eibar Coa, 12-1
6–Oh So Awesome, Jimmy Jerkens, Mike Smith, 20-1
7–Deputy Glitters, Tom Albertrani, Edgar Prado, 15-1
8 — Jazil, Kiaran McLaughlin, Fernando Jara, 10-1
9–Bluegrass Cat, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 3-1
10–Double Galore, Myung Kwon Cho, Mike Luzzi, 30-1
11 — Steppenwolfer, Danny Peitz, Robby Albarado, 9-2
12–Sacred Light, David Hofmans, Victor Espinoza, 15-1
Kentucky Derby runner-up, Bluegrass Cat, was made the favorite for Saturday’s $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, which drew a field of 12 3-year-olds.
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