Here are some of the players in one of the most perplexing Belmont Stakes in years.
Jennifer Patterson is happy with the way Orb has been training, as is trainer Shug McGaughey. The Kentucky Derby winner had a spirited gallop Thursday morning in which he was feeling good down the stretch.
Trainer Wayne Lukas and Oxbow have become quite a team. The Preakness winner has seemed more business-like this week, and has maintained his fitness and enthusaism despite a tough 3-year-old campaign.
No one has been galloping better than Freedom Child, who has been machine-like in his gallops each day. Trainer Tom Albertrani clocks the splits and had him going one-to-two ticks faster this morning. The best word to describe his gallops is flawless.
One always has to tread carefully walking past Freedom Child's stall. The colt is always looking for something to bite on, whether it be his stall door, his plastic ball, or his groom. He's not a mean horse as much as a big strong kid who gets bored easily.
Orb on his way to the track for his usual 6 a.m. gallop.
You can always count on Orb for some classic poses as he waits patiently to begin his gallop.
Trainer Dallas Stewart leads Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul off the van following his arrival Tuesday afternoon.
Golden Soul arrives bright and alert, and tongue free, as he checks out his new surroundings.
Oxbow shows he, too, can strike a classic pose.
You want a handsome, happy horse, whose coat shines like burnished copper? Well, say hello to Lukas' forgotten horse, Will Take Charge.
Darley's Jimmy Bell turns fan, as he takes a photo of Incognito for his scrapbook.
Frac Daddy's trainer Kenny McPeek turns hotwalker as he takes his colt for a stroll around the shedrow.
Vyjack's coat and weight have improved greatly over the past couple of weeks and he is starting to look like his old self after his Kentucky Derby ordeal that took a lot out of him physically.
Have only seen Todd Pletcher's horses gallop one morning (today) since last Sunday's works and just didn't get anything worthwhile enough to include on here. Perhaps later today if any are out grazing or tomorrow morning.
