Susan Del Percio is a New York-based Republican strategist and founder of Susan Del Percio Strategies, a full service strategic communications firm.
The 11/8-mile, $150,000 race featuring nine runners is part of the 29th Jim McKay Maryland Million, which has attracted 124 entrants to the 11-race program. First post for the $1 million day is 12:15 p.m.
American Pharoah won the 2015 race, becoming the 12th horse in history to win the Triple Crown and the first in 37 years. The crowd that year was limited for the first time, to 90,000. His time of 2:26.65 was the sixth fastest in Belmont Stakes history, and the second fastest time for a Triple Crown winner.