We’re on hand to give you the best, up to date information on all things Belmont Stakes. We are getting closer to the 154th running of the final leg of America’s Triple Crown of Horse Racing. Check out the contenders, their odds and how to bet as the race draws near at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 11th. You can also read our page dedicated to American horse racing tips to get tips on the other American horse races.
Prepare for the historic 154th leg of the 2023 Triple Crown™ that is scheduled for 10-12 June 2023.
Belmont Picks 2022
When the major prep races are run on the Road to the Kentucky Derby during February, March and April, we’ll have a better idea of who we think will be left standing for Belmont 154.
After the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, we may even have a genuine Triple Crown contender on our hands.
Despite the convoluted 2020 juvenile campaign, we have fewer top early candidates than usual. Although, the result of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile still has an effect on how we think heading into the winter.
Right now, those to have done best as two-year-olds and therefore are at the top of the very short list so far are:
| Belmont Stakes Horse* | Trainer | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Quality | Brad Cox | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Breeders’ Futurity winner |
| Jackie’s Warrior | Steve Assmussen | Hopeful Stakes and Champagne Stakes winner |
| Keepmeinmind | Robertino Diodoro | 2nd in the Breeders’ Futurity, 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile |
| Hot Rod Charlie | Doug O’Neill | 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile |
| Sittin On Go | Dale Romans | Iroquois Stakes winner |
*Both horses and their assigned odds are subject to changes.
While “The Run for the Carnations” is perhaps a fine old nickname for this race, its unofficial moniker of “Test of the Champions” is perhaps more apt.
Run over a mile-and-a-half, more than the vast majority of Triple Crown participants are bred for, on a deep track known as Big Sandy this race is gruelling for these young horses. To get more information about the horses, check our page dedicated to Belmont Stakes horses (runners and favourites).
Throw in the fact that some of them will be having their third Grade 1 run in five weeks. After having to qualify for the Kentucky Derby via hard-run prep races you see why only the toughest show their best form in this event.
Belmont Stakes Tips & Predictions 2022
Despite the fact that for obvious reasons the winners of both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes are given the automatic qualification for this race, it is otherwise a challenging race to even get into.
Huge prize money and the chance to land a Triple Crown event are big draws to trainers, owners and breeders. As just 12 can start at the gate on June 11th.
Derby and Preakness form is important for sure. Especially if one horse has won both events and comes into this race looking to sweep the series. Otherwise, one of the best early racing tips we can offer is to look more at breeding than form.
Speed is needed in the Preakness given that it is run over a trip of one mile, 1½ furlongs, but when they come here, they have to go over a mile-and-a-half for the very first time and often when they have already had a tough season.
The great sire Tapit has been responsible for several Belmont Stakes winners on his own. On the other hand, the great American Pharoah had a ton of stamina on his dam’s side so it has in the past been all about the breeding.
Furthermore, 2020 winner Tiz The Law has Tapit as a grandsire which helped him on this unique track. Although, in his race, the Belmont was shorted right down to 1m1f and was run for one time only as the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Since the Belmont Stakes race is the last leg of the Triple Crown, the rules for Belmont Stakes runners are stringent. When selecting the Belmont picks, numerous factors affect the ultimate decision, apart from the age and performance of a certain thoroughbred. Below, you can see some of our Belmont Picks today. However, 2020 marked the first year that the Belmont Stakes race was pushed as the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Betting Online with Belmont Stakes Tips
Tips naturally become more confident as race weekend at Belmont draws near at the beginning of June. This far out, all we have to go on is juvenile form and while that is strong, more contenders will be released in the New Year.
Form from the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness can’t be discounted, especially the former race, but the Belmont is somewhat unique and requires rather a different skillset.
If you’re going to bet early online, check out the breeding of the contenders involved and how well they stayed the mile distance as two-year-olds. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality ran out all the way to the line for example at Keeneland. Jackie’s Warrior is a Grade 1 winner at Belmont already and clearly handles the track.
Solid Belmont Stakes Betting odds are not likely to be released until after the Preakness Stakes on 21st May 2022. Three weeks after that will solidify as more information is known on the wellbeing of the contenders.
You can follow online tips for this event if you want, but keep in mind that not many favourites win this race in a normal year and you should always read as many trainer interviews as you can to try to gauge truly how well each horse is in himself.
For more information on how to watch the race, read our page on Belmont Stakes Live (live stream services information).
Belmont Stakes Betting Types
Finalising your Belmont Stakes predictions is just half the battle, you’ll need to know what sort of bet you want to place too.
Even with an overseas bookmaker, you will be placing bets on the American system essentially and so the old win and each-way are out of the window. It’s done slightly differently in the States, with ‘win’, ‘place’, ‘show’ and ‘exotic’ bets being the way to go.
Here’s how they break down:
- Win bet – your chosen horse has to win the race for you to be paid
- Place Bet – your chosen horse must finish in the first 2, in any order
- Show Bet – your horse must finish in the first 3, in any order
- Exacta – pick 2 horses, which must finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order
- Trifecta – as above, but with three horses
- Superfecta – same again, but with four horses
With bets such as the exacta, you can choose to ‘box’ the wager. This means you pay twice the amount to place the bet. However, you will get paid no matter what order your two horses finish. The only condition is that they are first and second.
You can also bet early on these races, in the ante post section. This may be called ‘futures’ betting if you are wagering with an American-based company.
Horse racing betting tips on other major events in America
If you are looking for more American horse racing betting tips, you should also check the tips on the following events:
