2023 Belmont Stakes: Which horses are bred to handle the distance?

The historic Belmont (G1) at Belmont Park is called the “Test of the Champion” thanks to its 1 1/2-mile distance. A quarter-mile longer than the coveted Kentucky Derby (G1), the Belmont tests the stamina of talented three-year-old Thoroughbreds like no other race in the United States.

Pedigrees play an important role in handicapping the Belmont, because not every horse has the breeding to handle 1 1/2 miles.

Which horses in the 2023 Belmont field are most likely to handle the trip? We’ve ranked the top five based on their breeding:

1. Tapit Trice

Blue Grass (G1) winner Tapit Trice is a son of Tapit, the three-time leading North American sire already responsible for Belmont winners Tonalist (2014), Creator (2016), Tapwrit (2017), and Essential Quality (2021). Tapit Trice’s dam is Danzatrice, victorious in three stakes racing one mile and 70 yards or farther, and Danzatrice is a daughter of 2009 Belmont runner-up Dunkirk. Tapit Trice’s pedigree is all about stamina, and racing 1 1/2 miles should suit the gray colt to perfection.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Tapit Trice

2. Arcangelo

Arcangelo showed grit and determination to win the Peter Pan (G3) racing 1 1/8 miles at Belmont Park, and stretching out over 1 1/2 miles should only help this stoutly bred runner. Arcangelo’s sire, Arrogate, won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Dubai World Cup (G1), and Travers (G1) racing 1 1/4 miles, and his progeny win at the lofty average distance of 7.8 furlongs. Meanwhile, Arcangelo’s dam is Modeling, an unraced daughter of Tapit.

3. Tapit Shoes

The second son of Tapit in this year’s Belmont field is Tapit Shoes, beaten a head by Red Route One in the 1 1/8-mile Bath House Row S. at Oaklawn seven weeks ago. The dam of Tapit Shoes is Awesome Flower, whose seven stakes wins all came racing one mile or farther. Awesome Flower is a daughter of Travers winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Flower Alley, who is best known for siring Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) winner I’ll Have Another, so it’s safe to say Tapit Shoes boasts a strong pedigree for the Belmont.

4. Red Route One

Winner of the Bath House Row and fourth in the Preakness, Red Route One has the pedigree to handle 1 1/2 miles. Sire Gun Runner was voted 2017 Horse of the Year after winning a bevy of Grade 1 prizes highlighted by the Breeders’ Cup Classic, while Red Route One’s dam is the Tapit mare Red House, which makes Red Route One a full-brother to Texas Turf Mile S. winner Red Run. Red Run recently finished second by a neck in the 1 1/2-mile Isaac Murphy Marathon, a positive sign for Red Route One’s Belmont chances.

5. Hit Show

Hit Show has demonstrated talent running long, winning the 1 1/8-mile Withers (G3) before finishing second in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2) and fifth in the Kentucky Derby. That isn’t surprising since the son of 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1) winner Candy Ride was produced by the Tapit mare Actress, winner of the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and Comely (G3) racing 1 1/8 miles. Candy Ride has sired long-winded champions Gun Runner, Shared Belief, and Game Winner, so 1 1/2 miles should be within reach for Hit Show.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Hit Show