Final preparations are being made for the P.A. Derby on Monday, September 3. The 28th running of the Grade II $1 Million race will have a large and competitive field.

The field is limited to twelve this year, and preference will be given to Graded Stakes winners, stakes winners and then highest earners. It’s the track’s first million-dollar race and will be the largest purse for thoroughbreds in the Commonwealth.

Horses to watch out for are Zanjero, who’s only run off the board once this year, and Cowtown Cat, who has turned things around from a poor run in the Kentucky Derby. Late-bloomer Cable Boy has looked impressive this summer with two wins. Other horses that may fill out the field include Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago (hasn’t raced since winning the Swaps Breeder’s Cup in July), graded winner Slew’s Tizzy, Tesio winner Xchanger and Moyer’s Pond.

With Kentucky Derby champion Street Sense out of the Belmont Stakes, that leaves Preakness winner Curlin and Derby runner-up Hard Spun as the favorites. Curlin defeated Street Sense by a nose in the Preakness taking away any chance of a Triple Crown attempt, but there’s still a chance that bettors could cash in at Belmont Park even if Triple Crown fans have no real reason to watch.

Aside from the two favorites already mentioned, the other known Belmont entrants includes Tiago, Slew’s Tizzy, Imawildandcrazyguy and Digger. Todd Pletcher is expected to enter either Circular Quay or Rags to Riches (or maybe even both), but we won’t know which one until it’s formally announced later this week.

Both Tiago and Imawildandcrazyguy raced in the Derby, and both sat out the Preakness. Tiago was a disappointing seventh in the Derby, but won the Santa Anita Derby earlier this season and is a contender to upset at Belmont Park. Imawildandcrazyguy came in fourth at the Derby, but hasn’t raced since. He should be well-rested and could also be a big upset contender this weekend.

Slew’s Tizzy probably won’t register on most bettors’ radar, but he should. According to reports Slew’s Tizzy has been running some superb workouts lately and they’re being compared to the workouts he was delivering just before he won the Lone Star Derby earlier this year.

The biggest long shot will likely be Digger. The chances of Digger pulling off a huge upset in the Belmont looks highly unlikely, as the last time Digger raced he was the runner-up in the Charles Town allowance.