Predictions for the 2024 Belmont Stakes contenders

Early types – Seize the Grey chased a hot pace winning the one-mile Pat Day Mile (G2) two back and wired the Preakness field at 9.80-1, scoring by 2 1/4 lengths. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained gray colt will send hard from his innermost post with Jaime Torres.

Dornoch will play a key role for late runners. He didn’t break sharply from the rail post in the Kentucky Derby, winding up 10th, but Dornoch has come back with several sharp drills in Saratoga and figures to be asked for speed from post 6. The Good Magic colt registered 103 E1 and 110 E2 Pace ratings winning the Remsen (G2) on the front end last December, and Dornoch has the speed to push the pace if he breaks better.

Early/Pressers – Mindframe led all the way winning a two-turn allowance by 7 1/2 lengths on the Kentucky Derby undercard, but he rallied from fourth to break his maiden. The lightly raced close will probably be hustled to avoid losing ground, tracking the frontrunners from his far outside post in the Belmont.

The Wine Steward has also displayed the versatility to race up close or settle more toward midpack.

Pressers – Mystik Dan won’t be far back in the early stages, racing sixth in the opening stages of the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness. Brian Hernandez Jr. will look to establish an inside ground-saving trip, and with Seize the Grey and Resilience to his inside in the starting gate, it will be interesting to see whether Mystik Dan lets those two rivals go and looks to drop in behind them.

Resilience added blinkers two starts back and wasn’t far back in the early stages of the Kentucky Derby. Antiquarian also possesses some tactical ability. Protective rates more as a one-run stalker.

Sustained – Sierra Leone has shown a willingness to take the overland route closing from far back, and trainer Chad Brown will change the bit and jockeys (Flavien Prat takes over) in search of his first Belmont victory.

Grade 2 winner Honor Marie, a troubled eighth in the Kentucky Derby, will also look to close from out the back.

2024 Belmont Stakes Expert Panel Picks

Join our expert panel as they give out their predictions for the 2024 Belmont Stakes.