BY REUTERS WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM JOE PANTORNO
The Belmont Stakes’s 6-5 favorite Tiz the Law will break from the eighth post on Saturday, at the start of American horse racing’s prized Triple Crown.
Traditionally the third leg of the thoroughbred racing series, the Belmont will be the first Triple Crown race after the COVID-19 outbreak forced the postponement of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes to Sept. 5 and Oct. 3, respectively.
The race will be held without fans, in accordance with health and safety regulations, and with the distance shortened from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/8.
Tiz the Law, a New York-bred colt, won his debut race by more than four lengths at Saratoga in August and won the Curlin Florida Derby in March.
“It could have been worse. I was hoping to get five to seven, something like that, we’ll take eight,” trainer Barclay Tagg told reporters.
Tagg previously trained Funny Cide, who won the Derby and Preakness but was denied the Triple Crown at Belmont in 2003.
“He does everything the way we ask him too, he seems to be very happy and content,” said Tagg.
Dr Post, a Todd Pletcher-trained horse widely considered the biggest challenge to Tiz the Law, will be in the ninth post position, while Tap It To Win is also expected to contend at 6-1 and will take first post position.
Max Player, one of the less experienced colts at 15-1 with just three career starts, won the Withers Stakes in February and will break from the third position.
“I think Barclay and I were going to fight over number 5, 6 and 7,” said trainer Linda Rice. “He got the outside, I got the inside, but my horse is a closer, so I think that will work.”
Here are the complete post assignments and updated odds for the 2020 Belmont Stakes as of Wednesday afternoon. Post time for the race is scheduled for 5:42 p.m. ET:
1. Tap It to Win (6-1)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: John Velazquez
2. Sole Volante (9-2)
Trainer: Patrick Biancone
Jockey: Luca Panici
3. Max Player (15-1)
Trainer: Linda Rice
Jockey: Joel Rosario
4. Modernist (15-1)
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
5. Farmington Road (15-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano
6. Fore Left (30-1)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
7. Jungle Runner (50-1)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez
8. Tiz the Law (6-5)
Trainer: Barclay Tagg
Jockey: Manny Franco
9. Dr Post (5-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
10. Pneumatic (8-1)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
