Eight horses will take part in Saturday night’s running of the Belmont Stakes, from Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Post time will be 6:49 pm ET, with the broadcast on NBC. Approximately 12,000 fans will be in attendance as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to recede. There is no Triple Crown to contend for, as Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby, and Rombauer won the Preakness Stakes. Even if Medina Spirit, who has now failed two drug tests from samples taken after the Kentucky Derby, is ultimately disqualified, the title would go to Mandaloun, who did not run in the Preakness and will not join the field at the Belmont Stakes.
Let’s take a look at the Belmont Stakes betting odds for each of the eight entrants as well as some thoughts about each horse.
Horse Racing News: Belmont Stakes Preview
Post 1: Bourbonic (15/1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Kenrick Carmouche
7 starts, 3 wins, $465,880 in career earnings
Bourbonic came in 13th at the Kentucky Derby, which was disappointing given the solid races he had put together at Aqueduct, headlined by a win at the Wood Memorial Stakes (Grade II) on April 3.
Post 2: Essential Quality (2/1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
6 starts, 5 wins, $2,415,144 in career earnings
Essential Quality came into Churchill Downs with a reputation for being unbeatable, but he settled for fourth at the Kentucky Derby. The Belmont Stakes is a slightly longer race, but he is still the favorite.
Post 3: Rombauer (3/1)
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: John Velazquez
7 starts, 3 wins, $890,500 in career earnings
Rombauer did not compete at Churchill Downs, but he vaulted to visibility when he beat Medina Spirit at Pimlico Race Course in the Preakness. He has two wins in his last three starts, with the other outcome a third-place result at April’s Blue Grass Stakes.
Post 4: Hot Rod Charlie (7/2)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Flavien Prat
8 starts, 2 wins, $1,305,700 in career earnings
Hot Rod Charlie had 8/1 odds at the Kentucky Derby and came in with a solid third. He had come in second at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile back in November, and then in third at the Robert B. Lewis Stakes in January at Santa Anita. On March 20, he was the winner at the Louisiana Derby.
Post 5: France Go de Ina (30/1)
Trainer: Hideyuki Mori
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr
5 starts, 2 wins, $145,291 in career earnings
France Go de Ina was an intriguing dark horse at the Preakness Stakes, but he did not fare well, settling for seventh place. The only two wins in this horse’s career have taken place in Japan.
Post 6: Known Agenda (6/1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
7 starts, 3 wins, $541,700 in career earnings
Known Agenda was a top betting choice at the Kentucky Derby (6/1) but only finished ninth. His odds are the same going into the Belmont Stakes, but his distractibility, which led Pletcher to put him in blinders in February, remains a concern.
Post 7: Rock Your World (9/2)
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Joel Rosario
4 starts, 3 wins, $546,600 in career earnings
He had never lost a race going into the Kentucky Derby, where he was the second best betting choice. However, he fell off the table at Churchill Downs, coming in 17th, and so Sadler held him out of the Preakness Stakes. He comes back in with high odds for an even longer race.
Post 8: Overtook (20/1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Manny Franco
5 starts, 1 win, $131,380 in career earnings
Overtook has never raced outside the state of New York. On May 8, he came in third at the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. He’s definitely a dark horse on a day when there are a lot more favorable picks.
Belmont Stakes Betting Odds
Love betting on horse racing like in the Belmont Stakes? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date Belmont Stakes Betting Odds
