The Belmont Stakes has been filled with intrigue in each of the last two years. California Chrome in 2014 and American Pharoah in 2015 had each won the first two American Classic races and were just a victory away from the first Triple Crown in more than 35 years. American Pharoah got it done, California Chrome didn't. But either way, the Belmont drummed up interest.
This time, we don't have a Triple Crown to root for after Nyquist won the Kentucky Derby and fell to Exaggerator in the Preakness. The two were supposed to settle the score in the Belmont, but Nyquist withdrew after suffering from a fever and low white blood cell count after the Preakness.