Belmont Stakes 2014: Post time, lineup, odds, TV schedule
Track: Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
Distance: 1 1/2 miles
TV: NBCSN (2:30-4:30 p.m. ET); NBC (4:30 p.m.)
Post time: 6:52 p.m. ET (Horses will leave for the walk to the paddock at 6:13 and the post parade will start at 6:39)
FULL LINEUP:
1. Medal Count (Odds 20-1)
Jockey: Robby Albarado
Trainer: Dale Romans
Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Career record: 8 starts - 3 wins -1 second -0 third
Career earnings: $261,600
Pedigree: Dynaformer — Brisquette, by Unbridled's Song
Running style: Closer
Need to know: Medal Count encountered a rough trip in the Kentucky Derby, finishing eighth, 7½ lengths behind winner California Chrome. He notched a solid runner-up finish to Dance With Fate in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland eight days after winning the Transylvania Stakes. Romans is seeking his first victory in the Belmont Stakes.
2. California Chrome (3-5)
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: Art Sherman
Owners: Steven Coburn and Perry Martin
Career record: 12-8-1-0
Career earnings: $3,452,650
Pedigree: Lucky Pulpit — Love the Chase, by Not For Love
Running style: Pacesetter/stalker
Need to know: California Chrome is riding a six-race winning streak, all stakes, that includes the $1.5million Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, $2million Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, $1million Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and $300,000 Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He would become the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown (Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes) if he wins Saturday. He is one of four California-bred horses to win the Kentucky Derby and the fifth to win the Preakness.
3. Matterhorn (30-1)
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
Career record: 4-1-0-1
Career earnings: $62,102
Pedigree: Tapit — Winter Garden, by Roy
Running style: Closer
Need to know: He showed talent by winning his debut over Harpoon in November. After beating fellow Belmont contender Tonalist in the debut for both horses (Tonalist finished fourth), Matterhorn finished fourth behind Tonalist in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 10.
4. Commanding Curve (15-1)
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds
Career record: 7-1-2-2
Career earnings: $542,434
Pedigree: Master Command — Mother, by Lion Hearted
Running style: Closer
Need to know: He came in second behind California Chrome in the 19-horse Kentucky Derby. His trainer, Stewart, was also second in the 2013 Kentucky Derby with Golden Soul. Stewart gained great training experience during 12 years of working as an assistant for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
5. Ride On Curlin (12-1)
Jockey: John Velazquez
Trainer: William Gowan
Owner: Daniel Dougherty
Career record: 11-2-3-4
Career earnings: $714,687
Pedigree: Curlin — Magical Ride, by Storm Cat
Running style: Stalker
Need to know: Ride On Curlin has finished no worse than third in nine of his 11 career starts, including five graded-stakes races. Ride On Curlin's sire, Curlin, won the 2007 Preakness Stakes. The colt ran second behind California Chrome in the Preakness after a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.
6. Matuszak (30-1)
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: George Prussin
Career record: 8-1-1-2
Career earnings: $78,643
Pedigree: Bernardini — Golden Sonata, by Mr. Prospector
Running style: Closer
Neede to know: Matuszak has been beaten by Kid Cruz in his last two starts. He hasn't won race a race since breaking his maiden in his debut at Churchill Downs on Sept.21. His trainer, Mott, and jockey, Smith, teamed to win the Belmont Stakes in 2010 with Drosselmeyer.
7. Samraat (20-1)
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Richard Violette Jr.
Owner: My Meadowview Farm
Career record: 7-5-1-0
Career earnings: $833,200
Pedigree: Noble Causeway — Little Indian Girl, by Indian Charlie
Running style: Stalker
Need to know: He won his first five career races, including the Kentucky Derby prep Withers and Gotham Stakes, at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. Samraat is an Ancient Indian word that translates into "Emperor." He finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby.
8. Commissioner (20-1)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: WinStar Farm LLC
Career record: 7-2-1-1
Career earnings: $235,767
Pedigree: A.P. Indy — Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold
Running style: Closer
Need to know: Commissioner ran second to Tonalist in Belmont Park's prep race for the Belmont Stakes, the Grade 2 Peter Pan. He is a homebred for owner WinStar Farm, who won classic races with Super Saver (2010 Kentucky Derby) and Drosselmeyer (2010 Belmont). WinStar Farm also bred 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide.
9. Wicked Strong (6-1)
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Trainer: James A. Jerkens
Owner: Centennial Farms
Career record: 7-2-1-1
Career earnings: $804,610
Pedigree: Hard Spun — Moyne Abbey, by Charismatic
Running style: Closer
Need to know: Named in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, Wicked Strong was the winner of the $1million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Centennial Farms is donating 5% of Triple Crown winnings for Wicked Strong to One Fund Boston. The colt finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
10. General a Rod (20-1)
Jockey: Rosie Napravnik
Trainer: Michael J. Maker
Owners: Skychai Racing LLC and Starlight Racing
Career record: 7-2-2-1
Career earnings: $372,200
Pedigree: Roman Ruler — Dynamite Eyes, by Dynaformer
Running style: Front-runner/stalker
Need to know: He's named for his former owner, Armando Rodriguez. He won the Gulfstream Park Derby in January and hit the board in the Fountain of Youth in February and the Florida Derby in March before finishing 11th in the Kentucky Derby. He finished fourth in the Preakness, missing third by a head.
11. Tonalist (8-1)
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Owner: Robert S. Evans
Career record: 4-2-1-0
Career earnings: $157,000
Pedigree: Tapit — Settling Mist, by Pleasant Colony
Running style: Pacesetter/stalker
Need to know: He ran second to eventual Florida Derby winner Constitution in a February Gulfstream Park allowance race. Tonalist won the local prep race for the Belmont Stakes, the Peter Pan, in impressive fashion by 4 lengths.