“It’s a wonderful post position,” Desormeaux said. “I can’t see any horses that will cross over on him. He will be able to establish a position preferably without ever getting a grain of sand in his face.”

Exaggerator is a 9/5 favourite with Stradivari, fourth in the Preakness, the 5/1 second choice after drawing post five with stablemate Destin at 6-1 from post two.

The late-running Arkansas Derby winner Creator will break from post 13 and was installed at 10-1 on the morning line.

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay will have more than a betting interest after purchasing a minority interest in Creator in partnership with Winstar Farm.

“Being a native New Yorker, this has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid,” Flay said.

“One thing for sure is, I know where Creator’s going to be when the race starts. He’s going to be easy to find because he’s going to be way back.

“But he has that incredible turn of foot. Having a horse that runs from behind that just all of a sudden hits the gas around the far turn, when that moment happens it’s an exhilarating moment.”

Governor Malibu, among four newcomers to the last leg of the Triple Crown series, is 12-1 on the morning line off a late-closing second in the G2 Peter Pan Stakes. He will break from the rail gate.

BELMONT STAKES, 1 1/2m

1 Governor Malibu 12-1

2 Destin 6-1

3 Cherry Wine 8-1

4 Suddenbreakingnews 10-1

5 Stradivari 5-1

6 Gettysburg 30-1

7 Seeking the Soul 30-1

8 Forever d’Oro 30-1

9 Trojan Nation 30-1

10 Lani 20-1

11 Exaggerator 9-5

12 Brody’s Cause 20-1

13 Creator 10-1