Why Brooklyn Strong could be a surprise contender for the Belmont Stakes
Brooklyn Strong may be an outsider for the Belmont Stakes following a disappointing showing in the Kentucky Derby, but there are a number of factors that suggest he may perform strongly on June 5.
With different winners of the previous two Triple Crown races, the Belmont becomes more of a high-profile stakes race. This means that trainers and owners will use similar criteria to a general stakes race to determine whether a horse should be entered.
Brooklyn Strong an almost certain entry
One horse that appears certain to be in the Belmont Stakes field is Brooklyn Strong, who just by virtue of his name would indicate that he would be unlikely to skip the biggest race of the year at the track located just beyond New York City's limits, less than 15 miles from Brooklyn. He didn't initially qualify for the Kentucky Derby, with his only points coming with a victory in the 10-4-2-1 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on December 5, but was able to enter when other qualified horses scratched.