The $1.5 million Belmont Stakes field is a relatively modest one, but it makes up for that in the hard-fought and very high levels of talent in the 2023 Triple Crown class. The post positions are drawn, the morning line is done and dusted, and the nine contenders look really quite ready, beginning with the current favorite Forte, achingly scratched from the Derby but still hanging on by his pasterns to the low rung in the odds, at 5-2, according to the Belmont oddsmakers.

Herewith, what has just been decided a few minutes ago at Belmont:

(Post Position, Horse, Jockey, Morning Line)

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1. Tapit Shoes, Jose Ortiz, 20-1

2. Tapit Trice, Luis Saez, 3-1

3. Arcangelo, Javier Castellano, 8-1

4. National Treasure, John R. Velasquez, 5-1

5. Il Miracolo, Marcos Meneses, 30-1

6. Forte, Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-2

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7. Hit Show, Manuel Franco, 10-1

8. Angel of Empire, Flavien Prat, 7-2

9. Red Route One, Joel Rosario, 15-1