Showers Loom on Belmont Day

Somewhere down in the Louisiana bayou, some friend or family member of the brothers Desormeaux must be working some old cajun magic as the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) draws near.

On Belmont Day, with Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Exaggerator in pursuit of a second classic victory as the morning-line favorite for the final jewel in the Triple Crown, those in the Elmont, N.Y. area awoke to a hazardous weather outlook alert from the national weather service calling for thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts, and even hail.

Similar weather moved in May 21—when Exaggerator and jockey Kent Desormeaux defeated Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist at Pimlico Race Course to give trainer Keith Desormeaux his first win in a Triple Crown race—and April 9, when the son of Curlin   aired in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

NOVAK: All Systems Go for Belmont Choice Exaggerator

Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine also wouldn't mind the slop, and longshot maiden Trojan Nation ran the best race of his life to finish second in the Wood Memorial (gr. I) on an off  track.

The Weather Channel predicted 80% chance of rain for the day, with isolated thunderstorms likely to move in around 3 p.m. ET, and a 60% probability for 6 p.m. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is 6:37 p.m.

Sun was shining out over Big Sandy as the gates opened, and there were no defections from the Belmont field as of 9 a.m.

BALAN: Exaggerator Draws Wide in Belmont Stakes

First post on a loaded undercard, for the $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes, is at 11:35 a.m. It features Rebel Stakes (gr. II) winner Cupid returning from throat surgery in his first start after a 10th-place finish in the April 16 Arkansas Derby (gr. I). The following stakes race, the $700,000 Acorn (gr. I), features Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Cathryn Sophia in her first start since that victory.

Follow @BloodHorse on Twitter for continued coverage and reports throughout the day.