Favored Afleet Alex will start outside in Belmont Stakes

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2005

ELMONT, United States (AFP) — Preakness winner Afleet Alex, a 6-5 oddsmakers' favorite in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, will start from the ninth of 11 stalls in the one million-dollar American horse racing classic.

Wednesday's draw sent Afleet Alex to the outside and Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo out of the fifth gate in a 1.5-mile (2.4km) showdown of three-year-olds that is the first Belmont in four years with no hope of a Triple Crown sweep.

Giacomo, who won the Derby as a 50-1 longshot, finished third in the Preakness and is the second choice of bettors at 4-1.

Afleet Alex was third in the Kentucky Derby but won the Preakness despite a near-disastrous stumble at the head of the stretch after clipping heels with rival Scrappy T.

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