[6][7] Classic Empire would have been the favorite of the remaining contenders for the race, but was withdrawn on June 7 because of a recurrent foot abscess.

[9] Another leading contender was Epicharis, a Japanese-bred horse who qualified on the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby but who bypassed that race to focus on the Belmont.

The New York Racing Association offers a $1-million bonus to any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont.

[10] Epicharis entered a one-week isolation protocol on May 25 and shipped to Belmont Park on June 1.

[12] Irish War Cry won the Wood Memorial Stakes in April and finished tenth in the Kentucky Derby.

At the back of the pack, longshot Hollywood Handsome checked sharply after almost clipping heels with the horses in front of him, causing jockey Florent Geroux to lose his stirrups.

[17] With no true speed horses in the race, Irish War Cry went to the lead and set a moderate pace.

"We felt like with the five weeks in between, and with the way this horse had trained, that he had a legitimate chance", said Pletcher, who is based at Belmont Park.