Belmont Stakes field reduced to 8 horses

NEW YORK (AP) The Belmont Stakes field is down to eight after two horses dropped out. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday that Carpe Diem won't run Saturday when

NEW YORK (AP) The Belmont Stakes field is down to eight after two horses dropped out.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday that Carpe Diem won't run Saturday when American Pharoah goes for the Triple Crown. Also, trainer Ken McPeek withdrew The Truth or Else.

Carpe Diem was 10th in the Kentucky Derby and will point toward the Haskell Invitational or Jim Dandy Stakes this summer. The Truth or Else did not run in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness and has an ankle issue.

That leaves seven rivals to face Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah in his bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

Pletcher still has two other Belmont runners: Materiality and Madefromlucky. John Velazquez will ride Materiality, who was sixth in the Derby, while Javier Castellano will be aboard Madefromlucky.

Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Wednesday.