Veteran turf writer Jennie Rees of The (Louisville) Courier-Journal looks at the 14-horse Belmont field for Saturday's race (NBC, 6:36 p.m. ET post time), in order of post position:


Frac Daddy

Saddlecloth: No. 1. Odds:20-1.

Record, earnings: 7 1-3-0 ($288,116)

Last start: 16th, Kentucky Derby, May 4

Sire: Scat Daddy

Dam: Skipper's Mate

Jockey: A Garcia

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Owner: Magic City Thoroughbred Partners

Breeder: Nancy M. Leonard Living Trust

Why he can win: If Kenny McPeek could win with Sarava (record $142.50 mutuel), he can win with Frac Daddy, who was regarded as one of Churchill Downs' best 2-year-olds last fall when a close second in the Kentucky Jockey Club. He had legit excuses in earlier preps (foot problem, throat ulcers) that are behind him and showed his ability when second in the Arkansas Derby.

Why he can't: That was a very slow Arkansas Derby, whose top two finishers were 11th and 16th in the Derby. He doesn't want to run that far.


Freedom Child

Saddlecloth: No. 2. Odds: 8-1.

Record, earnings: 6: 2-1-1 ($167,072)

Last start: Won Peter Pan Stakes, May 11

Sire: Malibu Moon

Dam: Bandstand

Jockey: Luis Saez

Trainer: Tom Albertrani

Owners: West Point Thoroughbreds

Breeders: Spendthrift Farms

Why he can win: If it's sloppy (it poured all day Friday) and he gets the lead, watch out. He won the Peter Pan by 13 lengths that way. He's a late-blooming horse who hasn't been through the Triple Crown grind. Trainer Tom Albertrani is as confident in a big performance as he was before Bernardini won the 2006 Preakness in his Triple Crown debut.

Why he can't: His rivals aren't Tinker Bell. There's a lot of other speed in the race, and what if the track amazingly dries out?



Saddlecloth: No. 3. Odds: 12-1.

Record, earnings: 8: 4-0-1 ($956,381)

Last start: 11th,Kentucky Derby, May 4

Sire:Dixie Union

Dam: Unacloud

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: Repole Stable

Breeder: Diamond A Racing

Why he can win: A horse who wins Belmont's Futurity and the 1 1/8-mile Remsen as a 2-year-old is a quality horse who has some stamina, as his dominant Arkansas Derby victory suggests. The racing gods owe John Velazquez for letting him take off Orb for the Kentucky Derby.

Why he can't: He's not as good as some of the others, with the Arkansas Derby being a slowly-run race, though he certainly is a major player in the exotics.


Giant Finish

Saddlecloth: No. 4. Odds: 30-1.

Record, earnings:6: 2-1-1 ($133,050)

Last start: 10th, Kentucky Derby, May 4

Sire: Frost Giant

Dam: Apocalyptic

Jockey: Edgar Prado

Trainer: Tony Dutrow

Owner: Sunrise Stables

Breeder: Andrew Cohen

Why he can win: The Spiral third-place finisher might just like it if the track is drying out. If Da' Tara can win, as he did in 2008, anyone can. He has stamina in his pedigree.

Why he can't: It's hard to have confidence in a horse whose trainer doesn't seem to want to run.



Saddlecloth: No. 5. Odds: 3-1.

Record, earnings: 9: 5-0-1 ($2,395,850)

Last start: Fourth in Preakness, May 18

Sire: Malibu Moon

Dam: Lady Liberty (Unbridled)

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

Owners-breeders: Stuart Janney III, LLC & Phipps Stable

Why he can win: He's the best horse, is bred for the distance, can adapt to any pace scenario and it won't matter if the track is wet or fast. Plus, Belmont is his home track.

Why he can't: He lost the only two times he ran at the track where he was stabled, including by 22 lengths at Belmont. As an aside: The last Derby winner to take the Belmont was in 1995.



Saddlecloth: No. 6. Odds: 20-1.

Record, earnings: 6: 2-1-1 ( $106,710)

Last start: Fifth,Peter Pan, May 11

Sire: A.P. Indy

Dam: Octave

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Owners/breeders: Darley Stables

Why he can win: He is bred for 1 1/2 miles as much as any horse in this field, being by 1992 Belmont winner A.P. Indy and out of Octave, who won the Coaching Club American Oaks at 1 1/2 miles. He's crying out for this distance, and his fifth place in the Peter Pan in his last start was sneaky good. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin won the 2006 Belmont with another horse (Jazil) who had not won a stakes before but was truly bred for 12 furlongs.

Why he can't: How is losing by 15 lengths sneaky good? He's simply not as fast as others. Jazil didn't have the Derby and Preakness winner in his Belmont field.



Saddlecloth: No. 7. Odds: 5-1.


Last start: Won Preakness, May 18

Sire: Awesome Again

Dam: Tizamazing (Cee's Tizzy)

Jockey: Gary Stevens

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Owner: Calumet Farm

Breeder: Colts Neck Stables LLC

Why he can win: The Preakness winner has a stamina-oriented pedigree and can just gallop the field into submission. 77-year-old D. Wayne Lukas (more Triple Crown wins than anyone in history at 14) and 50-year-old Gary Stevens (the only rider other than Eddie Arcaro to win each Triple Crown race at least three times) rank among the greatest trainer-jockey teams in the series' history.

Why he can't: Unlike the Preakness, he won't have an uncontested lead this time. Doesn't Team Geritol know they should act their age?


Midnight Taboo

Saddlecloth: No. 8. Odds: 30-1.


Last start: 16th, Kentucky Derby, May 4

Sire: Scat Daddy

Dam: Skipper's Mate

Jockey: A Garcia

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Owner: Magic City Thoroughbred Partners

Breeder: Nancy M. Leonard Living Trust

Why he can win: The only slim hope is that he's out of mare by 1995 Belmont winner Thunder Gulch. Have we mentioned Da' Tara?

Why he can't: He's also by the one-turn specialist Langfuhr, doesn't have enough experience and is too slow. He wouldn't be in the race if owner Mike Repole (who also has Unlimited Budget and Overanalyze) didn't want to win the Belmont so badly in his hometown.



Saddlecloth: No. 9. Odds:9-2.

Record, earnings: 7 3-1-0 ($988,500)

Last start: 3rd, Kentucky Derby, May 4

Sire: War Pass

Dam: Runup the Colors

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: WinStar Farm

Breeder: W.S. Farish

Why he can win: The Louisiana Derby winner is out of a mare who wanted to run all day (Runup the Colors). He was third in the Derby in the slop, and there should be plenty of speed to set up his closing kick. He has shown a ton of grit in his victories.

Why he can't: He's by War Pass, who was not a distance-oriented horse. His prep schedule seemed to be designed to take an easier route (Aqueduct in the winter, what appeared going in to be a weak Louisiana Derby) to the Derby.


Will Take Charge

Saddlecloth: No. 10. Odds:20-1.


Last start: 7th, Preakness, May 18

Sire: Unbridled's Song

Dam: Take Charge Lady

Jockey: Mike Smith

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Owner: Willis D. Horton

Breeder: Eaton

Why he can win: He had a huge excuse in the Derby, losing all his momentum when Verrazano swerved right in his path while stopping. The big, long-striding colt will love massive Belmont and its sweeping turns. He beat stablemate Oxbow in winning Oaklawn's Rebel, so the talent is there if he gets the trip.

Why he can't: He either wins or finishes up the track, and there are too many other top horses here.



Saddlecloth: No. 11. Odds: 20-1.

Record, earnings: 6 4-0-1 ($543,200)

Last start: 18th, Kentucky Derby, May 4

Sire: Into Mischief

Dam: Life Happened

Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez

Owner: Pick Six Racing

Breeder: Machmer Hall

Why he can win: Gelding has a lot of quality, winning his first four starts, including the Gotham. He lost all chance in the Derby when starting from post 19. The ever-patient Julien Leparoux, riding him for the first time, will not have him caught up in a speed duel.

Why he can't: He doesn't want to go that far. His record was padded against inferior competition at Aqueduct over the winter.


Palace Malice

Saddlecloth: No. 1 Odds: 15-1.

Record, earnings: 7 1-3-1 ($271,135)

Last start:12th, Kentucky Derby, May 4

Sire: Curlin

Dam: Palace Rumor

Jockey: Mike Smith

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: Dogwood Stable

Breeder: W.S. Farish

Why he can win: Keeneland's Blue Grass runner-up absolutely is bred for the distance, being a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and out of a mare by 12-furlong grass specialist Royal Anthem. With the blinkers off, he won't go out to the outlandish pace he set in the Derby to his detriment. He had a brilliant workout that had trainer Todd Pletcher saying he'd rarely seen such an impressive gallop.

Why he can't: Workouts aren't races. He's still won only a maiden race. Ultimately he's probably a grass horse.


Unlimited Budget

Saddlecloth: No. 13. Odds: 8-1.

Record, earnings: 5 4-0-1 ($705,200)

Last start: 3rd, Kentucky Oaks, May 3

Sire: Street Sense

Dam: Unlimited Pleasure

Jockey: Rosie Napravnik

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: Repole Stable

Breeder: Ocala Stud

Why she can win: Trainer Todd Pletcher already has won with a filly: Rags to Riches in 2007, beating Curlin. Her only defeat was in the Kentucky Oaks, which might have had more top horses than the Derby. Her versatile stalking style should serve her well, and she'll be as big and strong as much of the field.

Why she can't: Rags to Riches won the Oaks; Unlimited Budget was third. She doesn't want to race that far.


Golden Soul

Saddlecloth: No. 14. Odds: 10-1.

Record, earnings: 6 1-3-0 ($517,400)

Last start: 2nd, Kentucky Derby, May 4

Sire: Perfect Soul

Dam: Hollywood Gold

Jockey: Robby Albarado

Trainer: Dallas Stewart

Owner/breeder: Charles E. Fipke

Why he can win: The Derby runner-up will love the distance, and the likely muddy track should pose no problem. He has better credentials than some other Belmont winners and is a seriously good horse who just hasn't gotten the right break.

Why he can't: He won't get the same hot pace as the Derby. With the short run into the turn, the extreme outside post could pose a problem. When all is said and done, he's really a grass horse just waiting to run on turf.

Jennie Rees also writes for the Louisville Courier-Journal