Jalen Brunson drilled the go-ahead free throw as the New York Knicks held off a furious San Antonio rally to beat the Spurs 105-104 on Friday and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama had a crucial late turnover and missed a potential game-winner with two seconds remaining to leave the Spurs in need of an unprecedented comeback when the best-of-seven series shifts to New York for games three and four.

No team has lifted the trophy after dropping the first two games of the Finals at home.

Michael Jordan’s 1993 Chicago Bulls and the 1995 Houston Rockets are the only other teams to win the first two games of the championship series on the road, and both went on to win titles.

The Knicks won their 13th straight game of the playoffs – the second-longest streak in postseason history – and will have a chance to close out their first title since 1973 in front of home fans at Madison Square Garden. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to be in attendance on Monday.

They had to withstand a scintillating fourth-quarter surge from the Spurs, who erased a 14-point deficit with a 14-0 scoring run.

Wembanyama shook off a slow start to score 22 of his 29 points in the second half, his three-point play with 57.3 seconds remaining giving the Spurs their first lead since the second quarter at 104-102.

It was tied at 104-104 with 9.5 seconds left when Wembanyama grabbed the rebound of a Brunson miss but turned it over with a bad pass into the back of teammate Stephon Castle.

Brunson scooped up the ball and was fouled then made the first of two free throws to put the Knicks back in front.

San Antonio had one last chance, coming out of a time out with 7.5 seconds left. They got the ball to their superstar but his jump shot clanged off the rim.

“I threw that one away,” 22-year-old Wembanyama said. “I messed up. We didn’t play great as a team. We needed to win that game.”

Read more‘We love Wemby’: San Antonio embraces French star ahead of NBA Finals

Karl-Anthony Towns, who led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds admitted he was praying when Wembanyama put the Spurs’ final attempt.

“A great player got a great shot, and it just didn’t go in,” Towns said.

‘What a ballgame’

For the second straight game Towns delivered a stellar defensive performance that pushed Wembanyama out of his comfort zone.

“He’s a once in a generation player,” Towns said. “You got to make it difficult on him. So, just utilizing my experience, utilizing my size, my skill, and just trying to make it difficult for him.

Brunson and Mikal Bridges scored 20 points each, OG Anunoby added 17 and Landry Shamet scored 13 off the bench for the Knicks.

Wembanyama added nine rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals, and De’Aaron Fox scored 20 points for the Spurs.

Desperate not to head back to New York in a 2-0 hole, the Spurs attacked the paint early.

Wembanyama thrilled Spurs fans at the Frost Bank Center – where Knicks supporters were a vocal presence — with his first basket of the night, a left-handed dunk that gave the Spurs a 15-10 lead.

Fox’s alley oop layup off a feed from Devin Vassell pushed the lead to 10 with less than two minutes to go in the first.

The Spurs pushed their lead to 12 before the Knicks responded in a tense second quarter, taking the lead for the first time, 49-48, on Landry Shamet’s layup with 3:39 left in the first half.

San Antonio regained the lead, but Towns’s three-pointer over Wembanyama gave the Knicks a 56-52 halftime advantage that they pushed to as many as 12 before taking an 84-75 lead into the fourth quarter.

“What a ballgame,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “It’s a fantastic ballgame. They made a run. We made a run. They made a run. We made a run.

“We could have folded a few times, but our guys just kept fighting … no matter what run they went on, no matter what time of the game, our guys just kept uplifting one another.”

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

The New York Knicks celebrate after Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the San Antonio Spurs, Friday, June 5, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

2026 NBA Finals schedule: San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks

SAN ANTONIO — New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was neither offended nor frustrated when the San Antonio Spurs began intentionally fouling him in the first quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.

While he did go 3 of 6 on free throws in the opening quarter, the Hack-a-Mitch strategy inspired Robinson and the rest of the Knicks.

“It means a lot when I ruin their strategy, but I mean, it seems like they just want me off the court,” Robinson said. “So, in my eyes, I feel like I’m a threat.”

NBA scores today: Spurs vs Knicks – Finals Game 2

“I can truly say I’ve seen it all… It’s wild.”

Mitchell Robinson talks about New York’s huge defensive stop to win Game 2, and reflects on his journey with the Knicks 👏

New York takes a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals! https://t.co/LDbSKsMxId pic.twitter.com/9uBFSFHBgs

— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2026

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Was he ever.

Robinson, Landry Shamet and the Knicks’ role players came up huge as New York held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 for their 13th straight postseason victory and a 2-0 lead in the finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points, but said in a postgame interview with ESPN that those players, along with the likes of Deuce McBride and Jose Alvarado, were the MVPs of the game.

“Our team play had got us here,” Towns said.

After Towns went to the bench with foul trouble and fellow All-Star Jalen Brunson was resting, Knicks coach Mike Brown went to his reserves and they rewarded him with a big burst.

READ: NBA Finals: Wembanyama, Spurs let Game 2 slip away

“Somebody is always there,” Brown said.

“Again, a lot of contributions from a lot of guys, and that’s why you like having a team, because it could be anybody’s night on any given night. Our guys don’t care. They sacrifice for one another and we found a way to get a win.”

New York’s bench accounted for 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Robinson defended Victor Wembanyama when the Spurs’ star missed a jumper that would have won the game.

“Our effort, it’s been crazy,” Robinson said. “We just came out there just fighting, you know, talking to each other. Communication, that’s been key for us.”

Clinging to a four-point lead late in the third quarter, the Knicks bridged the third and fourth quarters on an 11-3 run fueled by Robinson, Alvarado, McBride, Shamet and starting guard Mikal Bridges.

READ: NBA Finals: Knicks escape Spurs for 2-0 series lead

Shamet finished with 13 points, Robinson had seven, McBride added five and Alvardo had two. Shamet’s 3-pointer put New York ahead 87-75 a minute into the fourth quarter.

Bridges had four points, one assist and one rebound during the run and helped the Knicks hold the Spurs to 1-of-5 shooting.

“I think started just defensively getting stops,” Bridges said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, us getting stops and getting out. Just him giving me confidence to try to make the right play.”

Robinson did the same.

After thwarting the Hack-a-Mitch strategy in the first quarter, Robinson sealed the victory in the final minute with two defensive stands against Wembanyama.

With the game tied at 104, Wembanyama missed a 17-footer with 30 seconds remaining with Robinson defending. Wembanyama then missed a 20-footer with two seconds remaining and the Spurs trailing by one point.

“In my mind, I was just like, defend without fouling,” Robinson said. “So, that was kind of like how it went. Just great contest, and just kind of how it went.”

Enzo Maresca will take over from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City but he is yet to be announced. The club are still negotiating with Chelsea and have not been able to announce their new coach in a strange week at the Etihad that has involved a legal threat issued to Madrid.

The headlines from the chairman’s interview may be enough to reassure fans as he spoke about Guardiola’s successor and the transfer market in a detailed plan for the summer and what lies ahead, but there are still question marks over the squad as players prepare for the World Cup.

With so many questions to be answered, we’re hosting a weekly Q&A session with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski. This is your chance to get an answer on anything you want – simply pop your question here and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.

Click here to find out the latest Manchester City news in our daily newsletter

As you would expect, the managerial appointment and City’s transfer plans feature heavily in this week’s list of questions.

Do you think there is a kind of “jumping ship” vibe in the locker room since Pep left? How does the club plan to keep being attractive? Walid

I have a question: is there a feeling that some City players do not have full trust in Maresca and his playing style? Or is it merely the feelings of them wanting to leave because Pep himself is leaving? Because the Gvardiol news is so confusing to me, he is a starter and I don’t think anyone would take his spot.. but the way the news is circulating made me truly confused. Rodri as well. Douaa

Let’s get straight to the biggest issues then. Rodri and Josko Gvardiol have both said things about their futures this week that have sounded less than committed to City and while some people love to blame misleading headlines or stories, they haven’t been able to in this case.

Both players have basically said they will not talk about their future until after the World Cup, while Rodri has added some cryptic comments that it is only the World Cup that has delayed a decision. The noises from both players have raised panic levels among some fans who think there could be an exodus to follow Guardiola out of the door.

I do wonder if either player would have said what they have said if Guardiola was still here, and it is very natural for footballers to consider their options when circumstances change. Former sporting director Txiki Begiristain described the summer after the Treble in 2023 as horrible, in a large part because players either wanted to move on having not been picked as much as they would have liked, or paid better to reflect their role in such phenomenal success.

Those feelings do not always make public consciousness so that is interesting this time, although it is a World Cup year and when I weigh it up I think they probably would have said the same in previous years. The manager wouldn’t have cared and the players would soon enough fall back into line on their return to Manchester.

That isn’t necessarily what will happen here, although I do think the most likely outcome in each case is Gvardiol and Rodri stay at City next season. Maresca is not Guardiola but he can still inspire players and there is also plenty more that the club has to offer – just ask Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo, who joined in January knowing they would only have 18 months at most with the Catalan.

Rival clubs have looked to use Guardiola leaving to inch them ahead of City in transfer battles, but there isn’t any evidence yet that it is a factor and there is unlikely to be much that comes.

Are City expected to reach an agreement for Anderson by the end of next week if a deal is to be done? Is the compensation for Maresca expected to be agreed this week and announcement expected by the end of next week? Do City usually work on weekends when it comes to transfers, contract negotiations and more? JH

One thing that football journalists should not relish is ever giving timings. Regular readers of the Q&A may remember last week when the person writing this said that Maresca was expected to officially start in a few days; those have been and gone and there is still no announcement.

It’s fair to say that it has taken longer than was expected to sort out with Chelsea so that Maresca can take over, but then it’s also fair that given everybody knows it is happening it doesn’t really matter when the official statement comes as long as Maresca is in place in time next month for pre-season – although again, there should not be much waiting left.

As I write this on Friday afternoon, I would be surprised if there was a deal agreed for Elliot Anderson by the end of the week. However, I can exclusively reveal (I don’t think anyone has asked before) that people at City do work on weekends and they are still confident of landing Anderson.

Hi, Simon. I’d like to ask about Claudio Echeverri’s future and about Josko Gvardiol. What is the probability, in percentage terms, that Gvardiol will extend his contract? And what does the future hold for Claudio Echeverri at the club? Another loan? Thanks! Vladimir

There’s a chance Claudio Echeverri could impress Maresca in pre-season and stick around the first team squad, but given his position on the pitch he likely needs another loan – the loan that everyone was looking for last year – where he can shine regularly in attacking midfield at a good standard.

Gvardiol will be around unless he really wants to go and City receive an astronomical offer for him that barely any clubs in the game could. Whether he signs a new deal is another matter, but there is still confidence at City that he will even if more dialogue is needed.

Are City going to take legal action against Enrique Riquelme, or is the matter still under negotiation? Alex

There was definitely a threat of legal action, Alex, although I’m not sure it will be followed through. The statements from Erling Haaland’s agent and father were probably more in keeping with the general feeling, but the club sometimes have to send out strong reminders.

Riquelme could, of course, escalate the situation if he does any more, but with the election for the Real Madrid presidency at the end of this week there really isn’t long before he will in all likelihood become irrelevant again with Florentino Perez the favourite to keep his position. I think it’s more likely it is forgotten about.

We keep hearing about midfielders on a shortlist. Are these just Anderson alternatives, or players to be considered in addition to the main target? Jackson

There will have to be players that City go for if they can’t get Anderson so some names will be alternatives. However, to take Sandro Tonali as an example, my understanding is that it would not be linked to any move for Anderson.

Given the uncertainty in the midfield with uncertainty around Rodri, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic and Tijjani Reijnders, it shouldn’t really be a surprise that City are making plans to sign more than one midfielder in the summer window. At the same time, just because lists are made it doesn’t mean that they are followed through on and midfield in particular this summer will be an area where the club have to be reactive as well as proactive.

What are City’s true/realistic expectations over the next 12 months? Garry

Why is Vincent Kompany not being considered for manager? Stadium1

I thought I’d include these two together for a bit of fun around expectations. I think Vincent Kompany would be the top choice for every City fan and of course he has been considered for manager but the stars have not aligned this time, not least because he is very happy at Bayern Munich with work still to be done there.

Nobody is Pep Guardiola, but I think the expectations of the club will remain the same: to be competitive on all four fronts and try to win silverware. Given two cups were won last season, the league went to the final week and City were in the top eight in the first Champions League stage, that doesn’t feel unrealistic.

On Thursday, World No. 1 Nelly Korda found trouble off the tee — even had to change her shoes mid-round — and went straight to the range following her opening-round 73 at the U.S. Women’s Open. As for Friday? She might have figured it out. Korda’s four-under 67 was the lowest round of the day, and it put her right back into the mix at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Here’s what you need to know for Saturday.

U.S. Women’s Open Saturday tee times: What to know

While Korda’s 67 was the best round of the day, several players, including Alison Lee, shot 68. Lee made just one bogey and shares the 36-hole lead with Ruoning Yin. Tied at four under, that duo will tee off in the final pairing at 5:45 p.m. ET on Saturday.

“I feel like I did a really good job at just grinding out there, saving a lot of pars,” Lee said. “I mean, even today on hole 2, I pushed my drive right and had to punch out. I was able to make like a 6-footer for par from like 100 yards in. It’s shots like that, holes like that that I feel like really make you or break you for this week.”

American Jennifer Kupcho is three under and one off the lead, and Korda is among a group of contenders at two under.

Michelle Wie West, playing in her final U.S. Women’s Open via her 10-year exemption from her 2014 Pinehurst No. 2 win, shot 75-74 to miss the cut.

You can watch the third-round action of the U.S. Women’s Open from 5-7 p.m. ET on USA and 7-10 p.m. on NBC. Peacock will also offer simulcasts of NBC’s coverage. You can watch featured group coverage via USWomensOpen.com, the USGA App, Peacock, YouTube TV, DirecTV and Xfinity.

Scroll below for complete Round 3 tee times for the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open.

SIGN UP FOR PEACOCK PREMIUM TO WATCH COVERAGE OF THE 2026 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN

2026 U.S. Women’s Open Saturday tee times: Round 3 (ET)

Tee No. 1

11:55 a.m. – Yue Zhang, Chia Yen Wu
12:05 p.m. – Ingrid Lindblad, Lottie Woad
12:15 p.m. – Sakura Koiwai, Asterisk Talley (a)
12:25 p.m. – Liqi Zeng, Rio Takeda
12:35 p.m. – Celine Boutier, Jinhee Im
12:45 p.m. – Mao Saigo, Yealimi Noh
12:55 p.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Minsol Kim
1:10 p.m. – DaYeon Lee, Nataliya Guseva
1:20 p.m. – Minjee Lee, Kaleiya Romero
1:30 p.m. – Farah O’Keefe (a), Gurleen Kaur
1:40 p.m. – Charley Hull, Rose Zhang
1:50 p.m. – A Lim Kim, Anna Nordqvist
2 p.m. – Yuri Yoshida, Esther Henseleit
2:10 p.m. – Grace Kim, Ayaka Furue
2:25 p.m. – Amy Yang, Lucy Li
2:35 p.m. – Bianca Pagdanganan, Ariya Jutanugarn
2:45 p.m. – Shiho Kuwaki, Ana Belac
2:55 p.m. – Shuri Sakuma, Maria José Marin (a)
3:05 p.m. – Julia Lopez Ramirez, Hannah Green
3:15 p.m. – Miyu Yamashita, Maja Stark
3:25 p.m. – Melanie Green, Minji Kang
3:40 p.m. – Hye-Jin Choi, Pajaree Anannarukarn
3:50 p.m. – Aphrodite Deng (a), Aki Iwai
4 p.m. – Kiara Romero (a), Xiyu Janet Lin
4:10 p.m. – Karis Davidson, Somi Lee
4:20 p.m. – Brooke Henderson, Jeeno Thitikul
4:30 p.m. – Nasa Hataoka, Patty Tavatanakit
4:40 p.m. – Allisen Corpuz, Jiyai Shin
4:55 p.m. – Nelly Korda, Sora Kamiya
5:05 p.m. – Casandra Alexander, Lauren Coughlin
5:15 p.m. – Sei Young Kim, Gaby Lopez
5:25 p.m. – Hyunjo Yoo, Hinako Shibuno
5:35 p.m. – Jennifer Kupcho, In Gee Chun
5:45 p.m. – Ruoning Yin, Alison Lee

The Minnesota Vikings recently got organized team activities underway and even hired a new general mananger this week — Nolan Teasley from the Seattle Seahawks. With those events in the rearview, it’s time to glance at the weekend rumor mill.

The franchise will get training camp in motion at the end of July, and the regular season is about three months away.

Minnesota’s Rumor Mill Gets a Summer Jolt

Rumor: Theo Jackson is the Vikings’ main trade asset before the start of the regular season.

Bleacher Report‘s Moe Moton decided this week that Jackson was the Vikings’ most logical trade candidate this summer, noting, “Theo Jackson made our list of potential cut candidates after the Minnesota Vikings selected safety Jakobe Thomas in the third round of this year’s draft. Jackson is among the Vikings’ trade candidates for the same reason.”

“Moreover, he could garner interest from the Washington Commanders, who hired Minnesota’s former defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, Daronte Jones. Working directly under Jones, Jackson made strides as a downhill defender, logging 47 tackles (three for loss) and two sacks in 14 contests.”

Most fans consider Jackson on the roster bubble as of early June.

“However, Jackson gave up too much ground in coverage, allowing a 131.5 passer rating and a 71.4 percent completion rate. Regardless of Thomas’ progress through his first offseason in the pros, Minnesota may attempt to trade Jackson because of his limitations on passing downs,” Moton added.

If the Vikings’ front office agrees with Moton, it would likely fetch a late-round pick from a safety-needy team for Jackson’s services.

Rumor: Kevin O’Connell was unfazed by J.J. McCarthy’s comments last week about his role in the QB1 roster battle.

McCarthy’s comments about his role in the QB1 battle turned heads last week, and reporters were quick to ask O’Connell about his take on Thursday.

He replied, “The interpretation of those comments will be what they are. I would just say, in the room, day to day, the dialogue between those guys, the interactions, have been very professional. And more than that, it’s been a positive room. I think Carson has a lot to do with that, as the veteran in the room.”

“And I would never discount Josh McCown’s extensive career as a player in those quarterback rooms and how he manages the room and everybody in there. So I didn’t make a lot out of it. I know there was some reaction to it. That’s probably not the first time there’s gonna be a reaction to those guys answering questions about the situation.”

The skipper also said that he expects fierce competition and does not require his players to smile during camp battles.

He continued, “That’s what the competition is all about. There’s no hiding anything. It’s going to be displayed on the field, and their teammates and coaching staff and the guys in this building have to feel a conviction about the direction we go, and you do that by your daily habits, and just improving.”

O’Connell added about McCarthy, “I think he’s handling it really well. He’s been great in the meeting rooms. As a captain and a guy that helps lead our team, he’s been phenomenal.”

Rumor: The Vikings won’t face Micah Parsons in Week 1 when the Packers roll into town.

Parsons is officially a no-go for Vikings-Packers on September 13th. ESPN’s

Rob Demovsky wrote Wednesday, “Micah Parsons’ initial hope that he could return within the first month of the season was never realistic, and the Green Bay Packers’ star edge rusher has come to terms with that. Parsons said Wednesday that he’s just past the five-month mark from his ACL surgery, which he revealed also included a procedure on his meniscus, and that he won’t be cleared to be back on the football field — even for practice — until the nine-month mark.”

“That would put his earliest possible return to practice in late September, and the Packers likely would not allow him to play in a game until after several weeks of practice. Parsons is likely to open the season on the physically unable to perform list, which means he would automatically miss at least four games.”

Rookie Danny Dennis-Sutton could get the nod in Parsons’s place.

Parsons isn’t the only star Packers fans should monitor. Tight end Tucker Kraft is recovering from a torn ACL sustained in November, making his Week 1 availability uncertain. Running back Josh Jacobs is also facing domestic violence accusations, a situation expected to create heavy offseason drama for the team.

Too, tackle Zach Tom injured his knee last year, though the coaching staff is optimistic about his speedy return. Therefore, it’s conceivable the Vikings could face the Packers without Parsons, Kraft, and Jacobs. Stay tuned.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

4 Pines Park will play host to Thursday’s
Round 14 NRL game between Manly Sea Eagles and
South Sydney Rabbitohs. The game kicks off at 7:50 pm with Manly Sea Eagles heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Manly Sea Eagles vs.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Thursday June 4, 2026 at 7:50 pm

Where: 4 Pines Park

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Odds

Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Preview

Fresh off confirming Kieran Foran as head coach beyond 2026, Manly returns to 4 Pines Park looking to continue its impressive resurgence against a South Sydney side attempting to arrest a worrying slide. The Sea Eagles suffered just their second defeat in nine matches under Foran last week, pushing Cronulla all the way despite being heavily impacted by Origin absences. South Sydney enters this clash after consecutive losses and remains without Latrell Mitchell, although the returns of David Fifita, Brandon Smith and Campbell Graham provide a significant boost. Manly also welcomes back Haumole Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula, strengthening both sides of the ball. History has swung back towards the Sea Eagles after Souths previously dominated the fixture, while Reuben Garrick’s remarkable record of seven tries in seven games against the Rabbitohs adds another intriguing subplot. Home ground advantage and Manly’s newfound resilience may prove decisive.

A variety of influential people were in Washington, D.C., earlier this week to discuss the ‘Protect College Sports Act,’ which is opposed by the Big Ten and the SEC.

Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould made one particularly important point.

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I am joined by ‘Locked On Irish’ host Tyler Wojciak.

Why did Notre Dame’s AD shut down the idea of a super league, even though Notre Dame would be included?

Steve Sarkisian and others called out Texas Tech for their weak schedule this Fall.

The Red Raiders might get Notre Dame on their schedule as soon as 2027 after failing to get Texas to bite on their Week 1 challenge for 2026.

00:00 Creating a college players union
03:40 Negotiation for college athlete representation
08:32 Challenges in Athlete Representation
14:58 Concerns about non-revenue sports
19:21 Balancing athlete compensation
21:09 Talking Texas Tech football plans
26:10 Evaluating College Football Playoff Rankings
28:43 College football trash talk

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

There are only two horses in the Belmont Stakes whose Beyer Speed Figures have improved with every start. One is Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo. The other? Growth Equity, who is coming off a career-best victory in the Peter Pan Stakes. On Saturday, this longshot trained by Chad Brown will try to move forward one more time when he leaves the starting gate in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Back Growth Equity Tempo or any horse in the rest of the Belmont Stakes field at TwinSpires with promo code CBSSPORTS. You’ll get a special $400 signup bonus, double the regular offer:

6 Growth Equity (12-1)

• Trainer: Chad Brown
• Jockey: Manny Franco
• Last race: First in the Peter Pan Stakes by 2 lengths
• Career record: 4 starts: 2 wins, 2 seconds
• Career earnings: $187,600
• Best career Beyer Speed Figure: 93 (2026 Peter Pan Stakes)
• Sire: Nyquist

Below, we’ll dig further into Growth Equity as part of our series profiling all the horses competing in the 158th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6. We’ll look back into his past performances, what questions need to be answered Saturday and analyze how the post draw affects his chances.

1 Vitruvian Man | 2 Powershift | 3 Chief Wallabee | 4 Renegade | 5 Ottinho | 6 Growth Equity | 7 Commandment | 8 Emerging Market | 9 Golden Tempo

Now that you know who’s in the field, you’ll want to know how to bet the Belmont Stakes on the top horse racing betting apps. Land a special $400 signup bonus with the TwinSpires promo code CBSSPORTS now:

What to know about Growth Equity

An improving 3-year-old is dangerous in the spring and that’s exactly what this Chad Brown-trained runner is. After finishing second in his debut in July at Saratoga, Growth Equity didn’t return to the races until February, finishing second again. He broke his maiden in his third career start, winning at a mile at Aqueduct.

That set the stage for his best performance yet, a 2-length victory in the Peter Pan Stakes, the prep race for the Belmont. He won that race going away, suggesting the stretch out to 1¼ miles won’t be an issue. That effort earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93 and continued a trend of ascending speed figures in every race (69, 83, 89 and 93).

Most impressively, the speed figures have gotten better as the races have gotten longer. A son of Nyquist out of a Wildcat Heir mare, he already has run farther than his pedigree suggests he should. 

In his races he has shown tactical speed and a preference to stalk paces. And in a Belmont Stakes field without any confirmed frontrunners, he should get exactly the trip he wants, likely just outside Powershift. 

Jockey Manny Franco, who was aboard two starts ago and had a big day at Saratoga on Thursday, is set to get back on Growth Equity and replace Flavien Prat, who again will ride Emerging Market.

Growth Equity is listed at 12-1 on the morning line at DK Horse and 1/ST BET, and there’s every chance backers will get that and possibly more when the starting gate opens.

Post draw analysis

Growth Equity drew beautifully, in the No. 6 post. He’s outside the expected pacesetter, Powershift, and should get the outside stalking trip that he covets. If he’s able to move forward one more time, he could be prominent in the final quarter mile.