[2] Entrants included the favorite, winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Big Brown,[3] but he eased on last place, a first for any Triple Crown hopeful.

A win by Big Brown would have marked the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

[4][5] The sire of Anak Nakal, Victory Gallop, is a Belmont winner, while Casino Drive has two Belmont-winning siblings.

A win by Casino Drive would have been the first time that siblings have won the same Triple Crown race in three consecutive years.

Kent Desormeaux, the regular jockey for both Big Brown and Casino Drive, rode Big Brown while two-time Belmont winner Edgar Prado had been scheduled to ride Casino Drive.