Horses heating up on the Belmont Stakes trail

1:06 PM ET

For this week, the focus is the impact of the Preakness and other significant news on the overall picture for the June 11 Belmont Stakes.

Heating up

Exaggerator: For a complete, glowing profile of Exaggerator as well as his (very good) chances to win the Belmont Stakes, check out this week’s Making the Grade. In short, Exaggerator is an extremely consistent and talented racehorse by a two-time Horse of the Year, Curlin, who could run all day. He showed he was at the top of his game in winning the Preakness Stakes impressively and he figures to be extremely tough to beat going 1-1/2 miles in the Belmont Stakes on June 11 for trainer Keith Desormeaux. A Belmont Stakes win combined with his Preakness and Santa Anita Derby victories and runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby could have Exaggerator in the driver’s seat for the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male.

Destin: Destin ran pretty well in the Kentucky Derby. I’m not sure the eight weeks off between the Tampa Bay Derby and the Kentucky Derby was ideal, and I was of the opinion that he could have used the extra experience and maturity that would come with another race. He definitely should benefit from a great learning experience in the Derby in which he raced in front of 167,227 fans in a 20-horse field, broke in and bumped with a rival at the start. He didn’t have a ton of punch in the stretch, but he was a little bit farther back than usual early and never gave up. With five weeks off since the Kentucky Derby, I think that sets up a fresh Destin to run a massive race in the Belmont Stakes. He’s also one of the few horses targeting the race with tactical speed. Of the horses probable for the Belmont Stakes, I think Destin is the most likely to upset Exaggerator.

Destin works ahead of the …

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