WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BELMONT

CONFIDENT COX

Trainer Brad Cox, who could “win” his first Kentucky Derby with Mandaloun if Medina Spirit is disqualified as expected, is optimistic Essential Quality can rebound from a fourth-place finish five weeks ago and make his case in the Belmont. Essential Quality opened as the 2-1favorite, and rival trainers believe the gray is the horse to beat.

Cox isn’t cocky, but he’s confident.

“I feel like we’re in a great spot with this colt,” Cox said. “He’s seemed to have won all of his races in different ways. He’s able to set off a hot pace or lay close to the pace or however he’s able to adapt. He’s a racehorse, bottom line.”

EARLY LEADERS?

Jockey Luis Saez might have to adapt while riding Essential Quality because part of the fun and anticipation of the Belmont is no one knows how the 1 1⁄2mile race is going to play out. Japan-based France Go de Ina seems incapable of having an uneventful trip to the track and is a wild card, and without Baffert there’s no trainer expected to want his horse to go to the lead and set the pace.

Rock Your World is the likeliest candidate to jump out to the lead, and is a chic Belmont pick given his pedigree — as long as he gets a better run than his 17th place Derby result.

“He’s got a lot of natural speed,” assistant trainer Juan Leyva said. “I think he’ll like (the distance). He’s a big, lanky colt. I think he’s going to do just fine.” There’s also some jockey drama mixed in. Flavien Prat jumped off Rombauer despite winning the Preakness to rejoin Hot Rod Charlie, and Known Agenda’s rider is TBD after Irad Ortiz took a nasty spill Thursday.

GOOD RACE DAY

The $1.5 million Belmont is the main event for a terrific day of racing like a heavyweight fight at the end of a stellar undercard. The eight other graded stakes races Saturday at Belmont Park combine to be worth just under $4.5 million.

It’s shaping up to be the best day of horse racing until the fall. “There’s some really high-quality races, almost a Breeders’ Cup preview,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.