Analysis (by Steve Grabowski)

Strengths: He has dominated his rivals in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He owns the three highest Beyer Speed Figures in the field and he and the lightly raced Casino Drive are the only two in here who have reached triple digits on that scale. Other than for a brief period in each of the first two legs of the Triple Crown, he has never really been asked for his best. He’s facing a field that, on paper, appears to be overmatched and his final drill in preparation for the Belmont showed that his recent hoof troubles will not be an excuse.

Weaknesses: This Test of the Champion will be his third start in five weeks. He’s battling a quarter crack on his left front foot that was serious enough for him to miss several days of training and will have the troubled hoof patched for the Belmont. While American breeding has certainly shifted its focus to speed over the past decade or so, at the very least it’s a stretch to say a son of Boundary, who never won past six furlongs in his career, can get twice that trip here.

Strategy: He’s versatile enough to take the lead or rate and should be able to adjust to any situation that presents itself. Considering there’s little speed in the lineup, he will likely be positioned in his usual spot near the top early and once jockey Kent Desormeaux chooses to ask him for run he’s likely to prove too much for his rivals.

Value: With impressive scores in each of the first two legs of the Triple Crown and countless memorabilia seekers plunking down their two dollars for a commemorative parimutuel ticket, he doesn’t figure to offer any value at all in the win pool .Value seekers may be best off trying to find alternatives to Casino Drive to fill out the exotics slots underneath this heavy favorite.