Exaggerator Draws Post Position No. 11 for Belmont

NEW YORK -- Preakness winner Exaggerator is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of 13 entered for Saturday's $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown.

The 3-year-old colt trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by his brother, Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, drew the No. 11 post position Wednesday.

Stradivari, who ran fourth in the Preakness in his stakes debut, is the surprising second choice at 5-1. Destin, sixth in the Kentucky Derby, is the third choice at 6-1. Both are trained by Todd Pletcher, a two-time Belmont winner. Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine is 8-1.

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, who finished third in the Preakness, isn't running in the Belmont. He was sidelined briefly by a fever after the Preakness and is back in California.

A year ago, American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, sweeping the Derby, Preakness and Belmont.

Being outside should not be an obstacle for Exaggerator, one of several 3-year-olds in the field who like to run well off the lead.

"I can't see any horse that would cross over on him," Kent Desormeaux said. "I'd like to establish position preferably without him getting a grain of sand in his face."

The 46-year-old rider returned to the track Tuesday after a brief stay in a drug and alcohol rehab center in Utah. A one-time regular rider at Belmont Park, he feels he might have an edge over a track that measures 1-1/2 miles.

"I do actually," Desormeaux said of having a home-track advantage, just like he felt he did at Pimlico, where he also used to ride on a regular basis. "I think it holds true to the Preakness, going back to that, and understanding the course."