Post time is 5:44 PM central time for “The test of Champions,” the 154th Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. One hundred forth eighth Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, which came in Churchill Downs at 80/1, is in the 8 horse field. Early Voting, the 147th Preakness winner, will not run and get ready for the Breeder’s Cup in September. But it’s a solid field with some interesting thoroughbreds and an intriguing filly. NBC will televise with coverage beginning at 2 PM CT on CNBC, and NBC taking over at 4 PM CT. Post time again is 5:44 PM CT on NBC.

Here’s a look at the field with White’s World’s prediction on which horse will win on the 1 1/2 mile course, the longest leg of the Triple Crown races. Weather is good, cloudy and 73 at race time. They’ve had some rain in New York this week, but the dirt track should be fine. Here are the contenders with post position, their trainers, their jockeys and the odds.

By the way Steph Curry went off last night in the Warriors 107-97 game 4 victory over the Celtics, to tie the series at 2-2. Curry sank 7 of 14 shots from trifecta, 8 of 9 from the stripe and finished with 43 points. He also threw in 10 rebounds to go along with those stellar offensive numbers. One of the best NBA Finals’ performances I’ve seen in a good while. Steph Is the best player in the NBA in my opinion. He’s gotten so much stronger physically and can play stellar defense now and handle guys who are bigger than him. Game 5 is in San Francisco Monday at 8 PM CT on ABC.

The Contenders for the 154th Belmont Stakes

1. We the People, Trainer, Rodolphe Brisset, Jockey, Flavien Prat, 2/1., the favorite, has won 3 out of its last four races.

2. Skippylongstocking, Saffie Joseph Jr., Manny Franco, 20/1. Fifth at the Preakness.

3. Nest, Todd Pletcher, Jose Ortiz 8/1, A filly that was the Kentucky Oaks runner up. Pletcher has won with a filly before at the Belmont. It was in 2007 with Rags to Riches.

4. Rich Strike, Eric Reed, Sonny Leon, 7/2. Been training like a monster since its 80/1 Derby win. Needs a perfect trip to win at Belmont Park.

5. Creative Minister, Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr. 6/1, Third place at the Preakness. A lot of potential here.

6. Mo Donegal, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr. 5/2, the second ranked horse in the field. Finished 5th at the Derby. Pletcher has won 3 times at Belmont and this horse won the Wood Memorial in April against a strong field.

7. Golden Gilder, Mark Casse, Dylan Davis, 20/1, The Peter Pan runner-up to We the People. This horse Ffinished 10 1/2 lengths behind the Belmont favorite in that race.

8. Barber Road, John Ortiz, Joel Rosario, 10/1, Sixth place at the Derby, but Rosario is a stellar jockey and could have this horse right there on the backstretch.

Winner

I’m going to take the 51 year old Pletcher from Dallas, winner of 3 Belmonts and 2 Derbys. He won the Belmont with Filly Rags to Riches in 2007. He also won it in 2013 with Palace Malice. And, in 2017, he won the Test of Champions with Tapwrit. Two thousand seventeen was memorable because I picked Tapwrit and I was playing golf that Saturday morning with Walter, Brownie and Theodopolous, and Brownie was canning every six foot putt he stood over. Walter starting calling him, “Tapwrit” because he was tapping in everything he stood over into the middle of the cup. So Brownie had a very good day on the greens and the course and so did White’s World with the prediction. Irad Ortiz Jr., 29 years old from Trujillo, Puerto Rico, has also won the Belmont in 2016 aboard Creator. Like this combination. Give me,

Mo Donegal

Trifecta

1. Mo Donegal, 2. Creative Minister, 3. We the People.