ELMONT (New York), June 8: Preakness winner Curlin was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favourite after drawing the third post for Saturday's 139th running of the Belmont Stakes.

Trying to become the third horse in seven years to win Preakness and Belmont, Curlin will have to take on just six other rivals in the one-and-a-half mile race.

Point Given in 2001 and Afleet Alex in 2005 took the Preakness and Belmont after coming up short in the Kentucky Derby.

Curlin, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, is trained by Steve Asmussen and will have Robby Albarado in the irons.

The second choice at 5-2 is Hard Spun, who placed second in the Derby and third in the Preakness. He will leave from the sixth post with Garrett Gomez in the irons for trainer Larry Jones.

Gomez is replacing Mario Pino, who was aboard the colt in both the Derby and Preakness.

While some of the luster of the third jewel of US racing's Triple Crown may have been lost without Derby winner Street Sense, who was nipped at the wire in the Preakness by Curlin, Rags to Riches may have brought some excitement back.

A fabulous filly, Rags to Riches is attempting to become the first of her sex to win the Belmont in 102 years.

She also is just 22nd filly to run the Belmont and first since Silverbulletday finished seventh in 1999.

Ruthless in 1867 and Tanya in 1905 are the only fillies to win the race.

Trained by three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, who is 0-for-28 in Triple Crown races, Rags to Riches is the third choice at 3-1.

Pletcher is 0-for-6 lifetime in the Belmont.

“What we have to gain is, it hasn't really been done in modern times,” Pletcher said. “She's sort of accomplished everything a three-year-old filly could accomplish. From a historical perspective, it would place her at the highest level.”Rags to Riches will leave from the seventh post and be ridden by John Velazquez, who is aboard in place of regular jockey Gomez who committed to Hard Spun.

Rags to Riches does enter with solid credentials, having won her last four races. She is coming off an impressive win in the Kentucky Oaks on May 4.

There has been one concession made for Rags to Riches, who will carry 121 pounds, five less than the others.

“She's a very intriguing horse,” Asmussen said. “There are no comparisons to make because she has never run against males. She's not going to be a pace factor, so her running is not really going to change how the race is run.

She's just another quality horse in the race and Curlin is going to have to run extremely well to win.”

Tiago, who won the Santa Derby before a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, is the fourth choice at 10-1.

The half-brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, Tiago will leave from the second post with Mike Smith aboard for trainer John Shirreffs.

The Nick Zito-trained C P West, Imawildandcrazyguy, trained by Bill Kaplan, and Slew's Tizzy, trained by Greg Fox, complete the field.—AFP