2020 Triple Crown: 152nd Belmont Stakes June 18, 2020 by Marc Jerbs

On Saturday, the Belmont Park in New York will host the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes.

The Belmont Stakes will officially start this year's Triple Crown, after the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stake were moved back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Post time is set at 5:42PM EDT.

The Belmont Stakes will be shortened to 1½ miles instead of the traditional 1 1/8 miles due to safety precaution and race fans will not be allowed in the racetrack.

Attendees will be limited to personnel essential to track operations and horse care.

The best three-year olds horses will still compete on Saturday even if the race has a new distance and strict track regulations.

However, three promising race horses have withdrawn before the Belmont Stakes.

Nadal, Charlatan and Maxfield were all withdrawn by their trainers due to injuries suffered in preparation for the Triple Crown races.

The 10 three-year old thoroughbred horses that will compete in the Belmont Stakes are Tap It To Win, Sole Volante, Max Player, Modernist, Farmington Road, Fore Legt, Jungle Runner, Tiz the Law, Dr Post and Pneumatic.

The sportsbook handicappers have installed Tiz the Law as the favorite to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday noon.