This year’s “Run for the Carnations” features a $2 million purse, and it takes place on Saturday night as the third and last leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. The 157th Belmont Stakes is held at Saratoga Race Course since Belmont Park, the race’s regular location, is undergoing extensive renovations. Since last year’s attendance was limited to 50,000, there is a renewed sense of excitement at this new location. The Kentucky Derby champion, Sovereignty, is returning for the Belmont Stakes with 2-1 odds after missing the Preakness. The current Preakness champion Journalism is the 8-5 clubhouse favorite. Belmont Stakes Probability: Getting the Winner Trained Only Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, one of the top trainers in Belmont history, has ever saddled a winner. Rags to Riches, one of his four prior victories, is one of only three fillies in history to have ever captured the third Jewel of the Triple Crown. This year Pletcher will send out a pair of runners in the eight-horse Belmont Stakes field.
James Rowe (8) – George Kinney (1883), Panique (1884), Commando (1901), Delhi (1904), Peter Pan (1907), Colin (1908), Sweep (1910) and Prince Eugene (1913)
Sam Hildreth (7) – Jean Bereaud (1899), Joe Madden (1909), Friar Rock (1916), Hourless (1917), Grey Lag (1921), Zev (1923) and Mad Play (1924)
“Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons (6) – Gallant Fox (1930), Faireno (1932), Omaha (1935), Granville (1936), Johnstown (1939) and Nashua (1955)
Woody Stephens (5) – Conquistador Cielo (1982), Caveat (1983), Swale (1984), Creme Fraiche (1985) and Danzig Connection (1986) (consecutive)
Max Hirsch (4) – Vito (1928), Assault (1946), Middleground (1950) and High Gun (1954)
Todd Pletcher (4) – Rags to Riches (2007) and Palace Malice (2013) and Tapwrit (2017), Mo Donegal (2022)
D. Wayne Lukas (4) – Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Editor’s Note (1996) and Commendable (2000)
R. W. Walden (4) – Duke of Magenta (1878), Grenada (1880), Saunterer (1881) and Bowling Brook (1898)
Elliott Burch (3) – Sword Dancer (1959), Quadrangle (1964) and Arts and Letters (1969)
Bob Baffert (3) – Point Given (2001), American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018)
John M. Gaver (3) – Shut Out (1942), Capot (1949) and Stage Door Johnny (1968)
Lucien Laurin (3) – Amberoid (1966), Riva Ridge (1972) and Secretariat (1973)
Frank McCabe (3) – lnspector B. (1886), Hanover (1887) and Sir Dixon (1888)
David McDaniel (3) – Harry Bassett (1871), Joe Daniels (1872) and Springbok (1873)
Tom Barry (2) – Cavan (1958) and Celtic Ash (1960)
Flint “Scotty” Schulhofer (2) – Colonial Affair (1993) and Lemon Drop Kid (1999)
Sylvester Veitch (2) – Phalanx (1947) and Counterpoint (1951)
Oscar White (2) – Pavot (1945) and One Count (1952)
Nicholas P. Zito (2) – Birdstone (2004) and Da’ Tara (2008)
In 1872 and 1873, James Rowe won the Belmont Stakes while riding for Joe Daniels and Springbok. Delhi was ridden to victory by George Martin Odom in 1904, and he saddled the victor Pasteurized in 1938.
