Belmont Stakes Betting Guide

The Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of the American Triple Crown series of races. Traditionally running on the second Saturday of June, the race takes place at Belmont Park. 

The Belmont is considered the most challenging race of the three, and the majority of runners are not the favorites. It is not uncommon to see runners win the race at double-digit odds. Unless there is an extremely promising horse coming out of the other two Triple Crown races, connections often focus on fresher runners that likely ran in the Derby but skipped the Preakness.

2021 Belmont Stakes Predictions

Because the Belmont Stakes is still far out, and there can be many changes following the results of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, there is no way to know which horses will run at this point.

However, we can look at some of the top names on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby, as any entrant for The Run of the Roses has a good chance of appearing in the Belmont Stakes.

Here is a look at this year's top contenders for the Triple Crown:

• Hot Rod Charlie: A son of Oxbow, Hot Rod Charlie is a leading name on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Leandro Mora-trained colt is owned by Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, and William Strauss. He was the winner of the March 20 Louisiana Derby (G2), finished third in the January 30 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), and took second in the November 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

• Like the King: M Racing King’s Like the King is trained by Wesley Ward and is one of the more recent names on the leaderboard. The Palace Malice colt began to receive increased attention following his victory in the March 27 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), which followed a runner-up effort in the February 26 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes. 

• Known Agenda: St. Elias Stable’s Known Agenda is another leading runner. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the Curlin colt was the victor of the March 27 Florida Derby (G1). He also finished third in the December 5 Remsen Stakes (G2).

• Greatest Honour: Courtlandt Farms’ Greatest Honour is a Tapit colt trained by Claude McGhauey III. He finished third in the Florida Derby and scored both the February 27 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and the January 30 Holy Bull Stakes (G3).

• Midnight Bourbon: Trained by another Hall of Famer in Steve Asmussen, Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Midnight Bourbon is a son of Tiznow. He finished second in the March 20 Louisiana Derby (G2), third in the Risen Star, first in the January 16 Lecomte Stakes (G3), and third in the October 10 Champagne Stakes (G1).

Belmont Stakes Information

The Belmont Stakes is a Grade 1 event open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. Also termed “The Test of the Champion” and “The Run for the Carnations,” it is the third leg of the Triple Crown. The actual race traditionally covers 1 1/2 miles or 12 furlongs on a dirt course.

At 1 1/2 miles, the Belmont Stakes covers an entire lap at the track, which is called “The Championship Track.” The track has witnessed almost every major American champion run over it, and it has wide and sweeping turns, as well as a long homestretch. All of this makes the Belmont track considered one of the fastest in the entire country.

The Belmont Stakes attracts some of the largest numbers of spectators of any racing event, with the 2004 edition drawing 21.9 million television viewers. 

The 147th edition of the race was won by American Pharoah, who went on to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Justify then took the 150th edition to become just the 13th Triple Crown champion. 

How to Bet on the 2021 Belmont Stakes

Because of the Belmont Stakes’ longer distance of 1 1/2 miles, explosive and fast horses are often at a disadvantage, while those with tactical speed do better. It is essential to look at the different types of runners and their paces, as having knowledge in this area will lead to stronger picks for the Belmont Stakes. 

Here is a look at the different types of runners:

• Front-runners: These types of runners start out strong and hold a steady pace throughout the race. They often do better when managing strides compared to trying to outrun opponents during the entire race.

• Pressers/Stalkers: These horses often appear slow and sit toward the back at first, but they then come from behind to move past their rivals. 

• Closers: Horses that also start slow but then pick up the pace as the race nears its end are called closers. 

It is also important to pay attention to a horse’s position on a track, as those that start to the inside of the track have a shorter distance to cover.