Finally, we have arrived. It is almost the second full weekend of June, so it is time to complete the Triple Crown of horse racing. The 2024 Belmont Stakes will run differently this year and even next year. There is nothing quite like shaking things up a bit to get the competitive juices flowing, right? While this year, we will not see a Triple Crown winner, we will see an amazing rematch. Between whom, you ask? Stay tuned to find out which horses will run for the carnations.
The 2024 Belmont Stakes: The 156th Running
Ah, the magnificent Belmont Park, the grand stage for the final and longest leg of the Triple Crown. Horse racing enthusiasts from all over flock to New York after the thrill of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. There’s a certain allure to horse racing that draws a crowd. Every year, we eagerly await the possibility of a new Triple Crown winner. Alas, we’ll have to wait until next year for that potential to be realized once more.
Belmont Park will not play host to the final leg this year in part due to reconstruction and renovations that are currently happening. The New York Racing Association knows the history and importance of this race regardless of whether we see a Triple Crown winner or not. So, what was the alternative course of action? The NYRA tapped Saratoga to host this year’s and even next year’s Belmont Stakes. So, who are the ten majestic horses that are set to run this year’s Belmont? Let’s have a look, shall we?
A Rematch in the Making
Prepare to be amazed as we witness a rematch of epic proportions. The winner of the Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan, and the victor of the Preakness Stakes, Seize the Grey, are set to go head-to-head once more. These two horses have already proven their mettle, with Seize the Grey narrowly missing the Kentucky Derby and Mystik Dan coming close to winning the Preakness Stakes. Now, the question on everyone’s mind is, who will claim the final jewel?
As the post positions were drawn earlier this week, the tension is mounting. Mystik Dan drew post position 3, and Seize the Grey drew post position 1. But who is the favorite to win the Test of the Champion? The answer is about to be revealed. This year’s favorite, who will be starting from the number 9 position, is none other than Sierra Leone. The stage is set for an exhilarating race. The same horse barely missed out on winning this year’s Kentucky Derby.
So we will see a rematch between Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone from the Kentucky Derby and between Mystik Dan and Seize the Grey from the Preakness. Each of these rematches is sure to be a show-stopper. It is going to be so exhilarating to see which of these three majestic horses will capture the final jewel of the Triple Crown.
Who is Sierra Leone?
This year’s favorite to win the Belmont Stakes is Sierra Leone. He will be jockeyed by Flavien Prat and is trained by Chad Brown. All eyes are going to be on Sierra Leone and Flavien as they try to capture the final jewel of the Triple Crown. But they are up against a pretty tough group of horses. There is no doubt why this race is called the “Test of the Champion.” However, Saratoga is known to cater to the “closers.” This bodes well for Sierra Leone.
While he had been put in a not-so-great position early on in the Kentucky Derby by his previous jockey, Sierra Leone came down the stretch and nearly won the Derby. If he can do what he did in the Derby this weekend at Saratoga despite bad positioning, Sierra Leone could very well claim the Belmont Stakes right out from underneath Mystik Dan, Seize the Grey and the other seven horses that will be running with them vying for the win.
Some will notice that Sierra Leone has a different jockey for the Belmont Stakes than he had during the Kentucky Derby. Chad Brown had made the determination that Flavien Prat not only paired better with the horse but also because Prat is a world-class type of jockey. He is known to show up when it truly counts, and this could be great for Chad Brown, who trains the colt, and the owners.
All eyes will be on Saratoga for the 156th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Check your local listing for where to watch this year’s Belmont Stakes on TV.
About the Author
Amanda Bentle is a mother with many talents under her belt. She is also a wife, co-worker, friend, daughter, and sister. Writing is something that has always come naturally to her. Amanda is able to share her love of many hobbies, as she is not a one-hobby kind of gal, with her husband and son. Not only is Amanda a master of many talents and hobbies, but one of the many things she loves as much as her little family are the cats and dogs that she has rescued and welcomed into her little family over the last seven to ten years.
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