Belmont Stakes

Experts handicap Saturday’s 154th running of the Belmont Stakes. Post time is approximately 6:44 p.m.

VIC CANGIALOSI

New York Post racing handicapper

1. MO DONEGAL: The Wood Memorial winner drew the rail at Churchill Downs and made the best of a bad situation. Found room and finished well for fifth to upstart Rich Strike who had a rail-skimming trip. Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who has been around the Belmont oval a couple of times. Trained by Todd Pletcher who also saddles ...

2. NEST: The filly took an impressive three-race win streak to the Kentucky Oaks and got outkicked by Secret Oath. Pletcher conditioned Rags To Riches, who beat the boys in 2007. Nest is a daughter of Curlin and may relish the marathon distance.

3. WE THE PEOPLE: The one to catch will be tough to reel in as he may be isolated on the lead. If one of the other seven contenders dances with him he should hit the proverbial wall somewhere in the stretch ... or he may score a wire-to-wire win.

MICHAEL LEBOFF

Action Network racing handicapper 1. CREATIVE MINISTER: Coming into Belmont off an impressive third-place finish at the Preakness Stakes, Creative Minister is an improving horse that seems to have more room to grow. The 3-year-old son of Creative Cause should like the distance and possesses the tactical speed needed to outlast this ho-hum field at Big Sandy. Creative Minister has two wins, a second and a third-place finish in his four career starts, so there’s every reason to believe he can contend Saturday.

2. MO DONEGAL: A trendy pick at the Kentucky Derby, Mo Donegal ran into a crowd at Churchill Downs and ended up finishing fifth, which was the first time he had missed the board in his career. A late closer, Mo Donegal should be able to pass plenty of tired horses as this distance takes its toll on the field. Pletcher has won the Belmont Stakes three times and Ortiz Jr. is the top jockey in New York, so there are plenty of signals pointing to a big performance from Mo Donegal.

3. NEST: The only filly in the bunch, Nest’s running style should suit her in this race. Nest isn’t going to push the pace, but rather is comfortable stalking the field through the first half of the race and keeping within touching distance of the leader before making her move late. Nest has four wins, a second and a third in her six career starts and is coming off a game runner-up performance at the Kentucky Oaks. She’s a threat and a good price.

THOMAS CASALE

Action Network senior editor

1. MO DONEGAL: I was impressed with his fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby after drawing the rail and getting off to a slow start. Mo Donegal loves New York, nipping Preakness winner Early Voting in the Wood Memorial, beating Zandon in the Remsen Stakes and breaking his maiden at Belmont. He’s rested and his hard-charging style is a perfect fit for this track.

2. RICH STRIKE: The Kentucky Derby win was such a shock that Rich Strike’s owner Rick Dawson never planned to race him in the Preakness. It’s easy to call the Derby win a fluke, but Rich Strike was the best horse in the field. That’s saying a lot because the two he beat out — Epicenter and Zandon — are no slouches. Rich Strike will try to set the pace, but will need to hold off the late chargers.

3. BARBER ROAD: If you want a longer shot to put in exotics, give Barber Road a look. He finished third in the Rebel Stakes, second in the Arkansas Derby and a solid sixth in the Kentucky Derby. Barber Road seems to prefer longer distances and he gets a jockey upgrade with Joel Rosario. A lot of signs point to a strong performance from Barber Road on Saturday.