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The Belmont Stakes is the third and final jewel of U.S. Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. Also the oldest of the three, dating back to 1867, and the longest at 1 1/2 miles, the "Test of the Champion" has tremendous buzz when the Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner seeks an historic Triple Crown sweep.

Most of the Belmont contenders have competed in at least one, or sometimes both, of the prior Triple Crown races. Fans who have been watching the three-year-olds progress throughout the early-season preps -- such as the Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass, and Arkansas Derby -- will know the major players very well.

But even fans who just tuned in for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness will recognize familiar names. If the Derby winner has gone on to glory in the Preakness, that two-time classic winner heads to Belmont Park on the cusp of immortality, with a Triple Crown on the line. If he was beaten in the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes could serve as a decisive showdown between the Derby and Preakness winners.

With trainers preferring to give their horses more time between races, some who ran in the Derby opt to skip the Preakness and go straight to the Belmont. Such a five-week break can give them a freshness advantage over those enduring the entire Triple Crown grind.

Also coming in fresh are the "new shooters" to the Triple Crown scene. Not ready for prime time in the Derby or Preakness, these late developers often use the Peter Pan, also at Belmont Park, as their stepping stone to the Belmont.