Sierra Leone, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, drew post 9 and is the morning-line favourite at 9-5 odds. Trainer Chad Brown has enlisted Flavien Prat to ride Sierra Leone in place of Tyler Gaffalione for this weekend's race.
Mindframe, a Todd Pletcher entrant, drew post 10 and is the only horse in the field who has not competed in a graded stakes race yet. Despite this, Mindframe is the second choice at 7-2 odds, largely due to an impressive 2-for-2 record with an average winning margin exceeding 10 lengths.
"He's a very talented colt," Pletcher said. "His two races have been very impressive. He trained very impressively before his debut. Of course, we're giving up a lot of seasoning, a lot of experience to some very good horses, so that's the main concern."
The $600,000 Constitution colt, owned by Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola, made an impressive debut at Gulfstream Park in March, followed by a commanding gate-to-wire victory in an optional claiming allowance on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Irad Ortiz Jr. piloted him to victory in both starts, and he will be aboard again for Saturday's race.
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, trained by Kenny McPeek, drew post 3 for the upcoming race. Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode him to victory in the Derby, will once again be in the saddle. The Goldencents colt, who finished second by 2 1/4 lengths in the Preakness, will carry odds of 5-1 into the race.
"(Lead owner) Lance Gasaway sent me a message this morning. 'Go there and get post 3,' " Mystik Dan's trainer Kenny McPeek said. "It's his lucky number, I guess. But no, we're thrilled with that. I think that was great. It's out of our control now. It's up to Brian."
Preakness victor Seize the Grey has drawn the rail post for the upcoming Belmont Stakes, with Jaime Torres in the saddle for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The colt, also the winner of the Pat Day Mile (G2), boasts program odds of 8-1, carrying high expectations into the race.
Joining Seize the Grey from the Kentucky Derby are Resilience, who finished sixth at Churchill Downs and will start from post 2; Honor Marie, who placed eighth and drew post 8; and Dornoch, who finished tenth in the Derby and secured post 6 for Saturday's race.
Additionally, the top three finishers in the Peter Pan (G3) are set to compete in the Belmont Stakes. Antiquarian, the Peter Pan winner, is one of three entries for trainer Pletcher and will be ridden by John Velázquez, who also piloted him in the Peter Pan. Antiquarian has been assigned post 5 for the Belmont.