The 2018 Belmont Stakes will be televised on NBC beginning at 5 p.m. ET and can be streamed online using NBC Live Extra. The horses go to post at approximately 6:37 p.m.
After Nyquist, winner of the Kentucky Derby, dropped out due to a fever and a high white blood cell count, this year's race was expected to feature a 12-horse field. That changed earlier in the week when WinStar Farms entered Gettysburg late. Many considered it a potential strategy move, as Gettysburg is a pace-setter while WinStar's other horse in the race, Creator, is a stalker who closes strong.
In other words, Gettysburg could set a blistering pace, fade nearer the end and Creator could come out on top. But even if that was the strategy, WinStar comes out ahead if another strong closer and favorite to win this year's race, Exaggerator, comes out on top. WinStar owns the studding rights for Exaggerator and would benefit from another victory for the horse, who took the rain-soaked Preakness Stakes over Nyquist just three weeks ago.
There's also the fact that Cherry Wine and Suddenbreakingnews, two of the other favorites in the race, are also considered strong closers and are starting far inside in the draw, while Exaggerator will be running from post No. 11. Gettysburg comes in at post No. 6 and will definitely be a horse to watch early, but all eyes will be on Exaggerator throughout the race.
Exaggerator has been the favorite since Nyquist dropped out, and that didn't change even when he was drawn outside. Last year's winner, American Pharoah, won from the fifth post, but the winners in the two years prior were both in outside posts. No horse has won from the first post since 2003. This year, Governor Malibu, jockeyed by Joel Rosario, occupies that top spot.