4 bold predictions for the Belmont Stakes

With no Triple Crown on the line and a robust field of 13 horses, Saturday’s Belmont Stakes is wide open. Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator is the favorite at 9-5 odds. He and Japanese contender Lani are the only two horses to have competed in the previous two legs of the Triple Crown.

Derby winner Nyquist, who finished third in the Preakness, will not run due to a spiked temperature after the Preakness.

Governor Malibu, Gettysburg, Seeking the Soul, and Forever D’Oro are new shooters to the Triple Crown race. Cherry Wine, who was a fast-closing second in the Preakness, is also slated to run, hoping to do one better on Saturday.

theScore has compiled some expert picks to help you sift through the field.

Candice Hare contributes racing analysis to various outlets, including @horseplayernow, FOX1340 AM, Danonymousracing.com, and CappingwithCandice.com

Selection: Suddenbreakingnews

This race has changed remarkably with the added pace player in Gettysburg, and we're now looking for a horse who comes from off the pace but has shown some tactical speed in the past. This leaves us with the talented Suddenbreakingnews, who has been ridden back lately but has sat much closer in past races, so we know especially over this longer trip that he is capable of those tactics. Add in that he gets a jockey switch to Mike Smith - who knows Belmont Park extremely well - and he looks like a prime contender off the back of his impressive Kentucky Derby run.

Long shot/Bold Prediction: Governor Malibu. He comes out of the same barn as Tonalist - who won the Belmont Stakes two years ago and, for that reason, needs to be taken seriously. There is no better conditioner of horses going long distances than Christophe Clement and the job he's done with this once-quirky son of Malibu Moon in the last four months has been nothing short of remarkable. Governor Malibu has always had the talent, but these days, he has the necessary discipline and maturity for taking on a high-class group over a distance where having the ability to settle is paramount.

Dan Tordjman is a correspondent for America’s Best Racing

Selection: Governor Malibu

Lightly-raced as a 3-year-old, this colt has been carefully handled by Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Christophe Clement. In his last race, Governor Malibu made up a lot of ground to finish within a length of a well-regarded horse named Unified in the Grade-2 Peter Pan Stakes. He should enjoy the added distance of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes and Governor Malibu looks like he’s coming into his own at the right time. He's better positioned for a peak performance than some of his competition - most of who have been through the rigors of the run-up to and through the Triple Crown.

Long shot/ Bold Prediction: While Governor Malibu is already something of a sleeper pick (he’s 12-1 on the morning line), I would look for one of Dallas Stewart’s 30-1 long shots to hit the board. Both of his horses, No. 7 Seeking the Soul and No. 8 Forever d’Oro, are making major class jumps coming off of their first career wins - which makes them risky and intriguing as long-shot plays. I’d give the slight edge to Seeking the Soul, who showed marked improvement in his first try stretching out in distance last out. He also looks like a horse who should be able to sit close to what’s expected to be a soft pace.

Dawn Lupul does television racing analysis for Woodbine Entertainment Group

Selection: Stradivari

This colt is lightly-raced and improving rapidly. He didn’t handle the atmosphere of the Preakness very well, but should have learned from that experience and can rebound in a big way here.

Long shot/Bold Prediction: Suddenbreakingnews is perfectly suited for the long distance, and switches to Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith. If he can sit a little closer to the action, he will be dangerous late in the race.

Ron Gierkink is a Woodbine Racetrack handicapper for Daily Racing Form

Selection: Suddenbreakingnews

I think "Sudden" has enough stamina for the distance.

Long shot/Bold Prediction: Lani won’t get a sniff.