Belmont Stakes 2024: Full Post Positions and In-Depth Analysis

While there won’t be a Triple Crown winner this year, the 2024 Belmont Stakes is still an interesting event. This year's race will take place at the historic Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, instead of Belmont Park.

The reason for this change is that Belmont Park is currently undergoing construction for a new grandstand, which will take several years to complete. Because of the track layout at Saratoga, the race distance will be shortened from the usual 1½ miles to 1¼ miles, the same distance as Churchill Downs.

With the prize money increased to $2 million, we can expect a strong lineup of horses, including those that finished first and second in the Kentucky Derby and three of the top four from the Preakness Stakes. Coverage will start on FS1 at 10:30 a.m. And continue until 4 p.m., then on FOX from 4 p.m. To 7 p.m., and finally back to FS2 until 8:10 p.m.

Horses to Run in the 2024 Belmont Stakes and Post Positions

1. Seize the Grey

Seize the Grey is trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by jockey Jamie Torres. The colt, owned by MyRaceHorse, showed amazing improvement when he won the Preakness by two lengths with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Before this, he won the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on Derby Day, which was also Torres' first graded stakes win. Despite running seventh in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes, Seize the Grey has proven he’s a serious contender.

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2. Resilience

Resilience is trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado. The horse is owned by Pam&Martin Wygod. In the Kentucky Derby, Resilience made a strong move, challenging Mystic Dan at the mile mark, but ultimately finished in sixth place.

Earlier in the season, Resilience impressed with a victory in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, defeating longshot Society Man by 2¼ lengths.

However, he finished 3½ lengths behind Sierra Leone in the Risen Star, placing him as a strong contender in this race.

3. Mystic Dan

Mystic Dan, trained by Ken McPeek and ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., is poised for another impressive run. Owned by Lance and Sharilyn Gasaway, 4 G Racing, and Daniel Hemby, this horse has already demonstrated its capabilities by winning the Kentucky Derby with a remarkable 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Derby’s 1¼-mile distance suits Mystic Dan well, a factor that will play to his advantage in this year’s shortened Belmont Stakes. Although he couldn't catch the leader, Seize the Grey, in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, he aims for a strong finish in his third major race in five weeks.

With strong competitors like Seize the Grey and Derby runner-up Sierra Leone also in the field, Mystic Dan will indeed have a challenging yet thrilling race ahead.

4. The Wine Steward

The Wine Steward is a promising horse trained by Mike Maker. The jockey for this race has not yet been officially announced although early indications are it will be Manny Franco. Owned by Paradise Farms and David Staudacher, The Wine Steward had a strong stretch run recently, taking the lead in the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Aqueduct.

However, he finished second, just 3/4-length behind the winner, Antiquarian. Similar near misses occurred in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, where he also finished second after challenging late.

5. Antiquarian

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, who has won seven Triple Crown races, Antiquarian is owned by Centennial Farms. In his last race, he won the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Aqueduct, overtaking The Wine Steward. This victory marks a significant move up in class for the Preservationist colt.

Previously, he finished sixth in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes, his only race against top-level competition.

6. Dornoch

Dornoch is trained by Danny Gargan and will be ridden by jockey Luis Saez. Owned by West Paces Racing and others, Dornoch faced traffic issues in the Kentucky Derby, which caused him to finish 10th at 22-1 odds.

He has previously edged out Sierra Leone in a close win at the Remsen at Aqueduct last year. Dornoch also won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park and finished fourth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes.

7. Protective

Protective is trained by Todd Pletcher, a seasoned trainer with four Belmont Stakes wins, the latest with Mo Donegal in 2022. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was slated to run Tuscan Gold before it pulled out, will be on him this weekend. Owned by Repole Stable, Protective has shown promise but has yet to find its full potential.

He recently finished third in the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Aqueduct, trailing two lengths behind his stablemate, Antiquarian. Prior to this, he also secured a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial.

8. Honor Marie

Honor Marie is trained by Whit Beckman and ridden by jockey Ben Curtis. Owned by Ribble Farms, the horse had a commendable rally in the Kentucky Derby, finishing eighth after being last at six furlongs.

In the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, Honor Marie secured a second-place finish behind Catching Freedom. Earlier, he won the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs.

9. Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is conditioned by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat. Owned by Mrs. John Magnier and others, Sierra Leone had an outstanding performance in the Kentucky Derby, coming from the 18th position to finish second, just a nose-short of Mystic Dan. This remarkable effort earned him a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Purchased for $2.3 million as a yearling, Sierra Leone has shown promise by winning the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

10. Mindframe

Mindframe is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. The horse is owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables.

Mindframe is unbeaten in two career starts, including an impressive maiden victory at Gulfstream Park on March 30. It earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest in the field.

That win was at seven furlongs, and he followed it up by winning a Churchill Downs allowance race stylishly with a 7½-length win in a 1 1/16-mile test. Early sportsbooks place him as the second favorite behind only Sierra Leone.