Point Given favored at 2-1

ELMONT, N.Y. - Point Given, as expected, was established as the 2-1 favorite after Friday's miniscule advance wagering on Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

Point Given, the Preakness winner, was sent off as the betting favorite in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Dollar Bill, who was fourth in the Preakness, was the second choice at 4-1, though Friday's wagering (approximately $25,000) figures to represent only a fraction of the total win pool.

Monarchos, the Kentucky Derby winner, and Balto Star were co-third choices at 5-1, followed by Preakness runner-up A P Valentine at 6-1.

Odds on the rest of the nine-horse field were: Thunder Blitz 12-1; Dr Greenfield 12-1; Invisible Ink 13-1; and Buckle Down Ben 44-1.

$40,842 pick six carryover

Forest Secrets' 50-1 upset in the Acorn Stakes and Buster's Daydream 21-1 victory in the Flash were enough to create a $40,842 carryover into Saturday's pick six.

The extra money, though, figures to be lost in the shuffle by the time the pool closes as the New York Racing Association is offering a guaranteed pot of $1 million.

Races six through 11 on the 12-race card will comprise the pick six.

Sen. Clinton to present Belmont trophy

New York's junior U.S. Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton, will present the trophy to the winning connections of the Belmont Stakes. She will be accompanied by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

Among the celebrities expected to be on hand for the 133rd running of the Belmont are Mel Brooks, the man behind the Broadway smash "The Producers," actors Ben Kingsley ("Ghandi"), Billy Zane ("Titanic") and Michael Imperioli ("The Soprano's"), New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino (co-owner of A P Valentine), former New York Yankees and Mets pitcher Doc Gooden, and models Maggie Rizer, Angela Lindvall, Erin O'Connor and Karen Elson.