Carpe Diem, one other out of Belmont Stakes

American Pharoah worked out last week and two Belmont Stakes contenders withdrew from consideration. The same happened Monday following the Triple Crown hopeful's latest breeze.

Trainer Todd Pletcher's Carpe Diem, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner who ran 10th in the Kentucky Derby, is out, co-owner WinStar Farm announced.

"We just felt he wasn't 100 percent going into what is a phenomenal race, with a horse of such high stature," said WinStar CEO Elliott Walden. "He was maybe 85 to 90 percent."

WinStar won't be without its rooting interest Saturday. American Pharoah's sire, Pioneerof the Nile, stands at stud there.

Also, trainer Kenny McPeek's longshot probable, The Truth or Else, was found with a filling in his ankle and won't enter the Belmont.

"We will give him the time he needs and bring him back when he's 100%," McPeek tweeted. "We believe he did this galloping Saturday."

The defections followed those of War Story and Conquest Curlinate a week ago and left the prospective Belmont field at eight -- the smallest since Rags to Riches topped six others in the 2007 race. It's a favorable number for American Pharoah, as no Triple Crown winner has won the Belmont running against more than seven foes.

The Daily Racing Form reported separately that Pletcher's other Belmont probables -- Materiality and Madefromlucky -- will be ridden by John Velazquez and Javier Castellano, respectively. Both, like Carpe Diem, passed on the Preakness and figure as some of American Pharoah's stiffest competition on Saturday.

Others expected to enter the Belmont include fourth-place Derby finisher Frosted, Preakness runner-up Tale of Verve, Keen Ice, Mubtaahij and Frammento.