After a troubled fourth as the Kentucky Derby favorite, Essential Quality has been established as the 2-1 morning line choice for Saturday’s 153rd running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. The once-beaten colt will face seven challengers in the final jewel of the Triple Crown.

After skipping the Kentucky Derby (G1), Rombauer exploded from off the pace to win the Preakness S. (G1) going away at odds of 11.80-1. Now he’s expected to bid for divisional leadership in the June 5 Belmont S. (G1), where several Derby alumni and a few new shooters are likely to pose fresh challenges.

The restraint showed by owner John Fradkin earlier this season with Rombauer paid off handsomely when his homebred colt rallied for a decisive victory in the $1 million Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico on Saturday under jockey Flavien Prat.

Medina Spirit’s gutsy victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1) has come under the microscope after a positive postrace test for betamethasone. But the rags-to-riches colt will get his chance to follow up in Saturday's Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico.

Essential Quality needed nearly the entire stretch, but the classy gray colt would not be denied in Saturday’s $800,000 Blue Grass S.

Leading Kentucky Derby contender Essential Quality tops a field of nine in Saturday’s $800,000 Blue Grass S. (G2) at Keeneland

Expert horse racing analyst James Scully reflects the KY Derby implications we learned from the efforts of Mandaloun and Rombauer.

The Lewis shapes up as arguably the trickier race to handicap, with a well-matched field. But the Holy Bull might have a greater impact over the long haul, by producing a major Derby contender.

Exciting debut winner Life Is Good and his sire Into Mischief closed as the individual favorites in the first 2021 Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools.