We the People is the morning-line favorite for Belmont Stakes

Rich Strike became the 80-1, out-of-nowhere winner of the Kentucky Derby, shooting up from way behind to cross the finish line ahead of the rest. But his connections had him skip the Preakness.

Then Preakness winner Early Voting’s connections elected for their horse to skip Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.

That brings us to Tuesday.

The post position draw for the 154th running of the Belmont was held inside the Triple Crown Lounge at Belmont Park, and the morning-line odds were announced immediately after.

Even though Rich Strike will be back on the track for the eight-horse race, We the People was the one shooting up to favorite status for the 1 1⁄2 mile “Test of the Champion.”

We the People drew the rail and was listed at 2-1 with Flavien Prat in the saddle. The bay son of Constitution, who sired 2020 Belmont winner Tiz the Law, has a history at Belmont, a real good one. We the People won the 1 1/8 mile Peter Pan by 10 1⁄4 lengths on May 14.

“I don’t look at the odds, but it makes sense,” trainer Rodolphe Brisset said.

Rich Strike isn’t even the second choice. That status belongs to Todd Pletcher-trained Mo Donegal, who drew post 6 and is listed at 5-2. Mo Donegal finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, 3 3⁄4  lengths behind Rich Strike.

“I thought he ran a very credible race at the Derby,” Pletcher said of Mo Donegal, who sat 19th at the start and was eighth entering the stretch.

Rich Strike is the third choice, at 7-2 from post 4. His owner loved the sound of that.

“I’m good with it,” Rick Dawson said. “I don’t want to jinx him or anything like that. But four is kind of a lucky number for me, so I like our post. Just always been a number that I seem to win with. I don’t know why. Not only in horse racing, but in various things. If I could’ve picked a number on the board to start, it would’ve been four.”

Creative Minister, who finished third at the Preakness, will start from post 5 with Brian Hernandez Jr. and is 6-1,

“It’s a good, solid spot,” said trainer Kenneth McPeek, who saw his 70-1 shot, Sarava, take the Belmont in 2002, when War Emblem was trying to chase down a Triple Crown. “I wasn’t overly worried about where he drew. He’s a horse that can stalk off the pace and get some nice rhythm. It’s not a big field.

“When we won it with Sarava, we were in the 12 hole. We’re certainly not that far out this year.”

Pletcher has another horse in the field, who is the only filly. Nest, drew the No. 3 post and is 8-1. The daughter of 2007 Preakness winner Curlin placed second behind Secret Oath at the Kentucky Oaks on May 6. Three fillies have won the Belmont, including Pletcher’s Rags to Riches in 2007.

“She’s a filly that’s really well bred for this race,” Pletcher said of Nest. “I think she’s got the right kind of disposition for it.”

Barber Road (10-1), who finished sixth at the Derby, drew the No. 8 post. Skippylongstocking (20-1), who came in fifth at the Preakness, drew No. 2. And Golden Glider (20-1), who was the runner-up in the Peter Pan, will start from post 7.