A total of 12 sophomores remained in the line-up for Saturday's GI Belmont S. when post positions were drawn in New York City Wednesday afternoon. With the morning defection of expected heavy favorite Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), GII Lambholm South Holy Bull S. and GII Wood Memorial S. hero Irish War Cry (Curlin) inherited favoritism at 7-2 on Eric Donovan's morning line. The 'TDN Rising Star', last seen fading to 10th in the GI Kentucky Derby May 6, will break from post seven.
“It's a post I would have chosen instead of 8 inward, so I'm very happy with it,” trainer Graham Motion said. “I guess it's more up to [jockey] Rajiv [Maragh] though, really.”
Japanese invader Epicharis (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) will leave from stall 11 and was installed the 4-1 second choice. Four-for-four in his native Japan, he was beaten a nose by Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in Meydan's G2 UAE Derby Mar. 25. Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky) drew post six and was given a 5-1 morning-line quote. Trained by last year's Belmont-winning conditioner Steve Asmussen, the late runner was second in the Derby and fourth in the GI Preakness S.
The remainder of the field for the Belmont is as follows: 1-Twisted Tom (Creative Cause), 20-1; 2-Tapwrit (Tapit), 6-1; 3-Gormley (Malibu Moon), 8-1; 4-J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), 15-1; 5-Hollywood Handsome (Tapizar), 30-1; 8-Senior Investment (Discreetly Mine), 12-1; 9-Meantime (Shackleford), 15-1; 10-Multiplier (The Factor), 15-1; 12-Patch (Union Rags), 12-1.
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