Belmont Stakes: Off track is a distinct possibility

ELMONT, N.Y. - There is a real possibility Saturday’s 143rd Belmont Stakes will be run over a wet track.

Overnight rains left Belmont’s track muddy for the first few races and with temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s and no sunshine, it isn’t ideal for drying out.

Decided longshots Monzon and Ruler On Ice are the only two horses in the Belmont field that show a win over a wet track. Shackleford has the breeding to suggest he would handle it fine. The jury is out on whether Animal Kingdom is bred for an off track, but he certainly hasn’t found a surface yet that he hasn’t handled.

All six scheduled turf races remain on the grass, and the courses are labeled good.