2018 Belmont Stakes: Betting Odds and Predictions

Belmont Stakes Odds

Saturday is the 150^th running of the Belmont Stakes. Considered the toughest of the Triple Crown races, it’s the longest of them at 1.5 miles on the dirt track at Belmont Park in New York.

If there isn’t a horse attempting the Triple Crown, the Belmont doesn’t register much as a major sports event. But when a horse is trying for history, it’s one of the biggest on the summer calendar. That’s the case Saturday as the colt Justify looks to become the 13^th Triple Crown winner. If he does, it’s quite possible his handlers don’t race Justify again and retire him to stud.

One thing is certain Saturday: No horse will match Secretariat’s epic 31-length victory to capture the Triple Crown in 1973. Check out Sports Interaction’s Belmont Stakes betting odds here.

Here’s the full field, numbered by post position:

No. 1 Justify

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Mike Smith

Odds: -138

This is the only horse who matters on Saturday. Justify, unbeaten in five career starts, became the first horse since 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby (as the favourite) without racing as a 2-year-old and then followed up with a Preakness victory (as an even bigger favourite) that wasn’t quite as impressive as it appeared Justify might be tiring at the end. Both those races were on a sloppy track. Yes, it could rain Saturday in New York. The last Triple Crown winner was American Pharoah in 2015, and he also was trained by Baffert. The most winners in Belmont history, 23, have started from Post 1.

Free Drop Billy

Trainer: Dale L. Romans

Jockey: Robby Albarado

Odds: +4600

Free Drop Billy won the Breeders’ Cup Futurity last October – Bravazo was second – but hasn’t won in five races since. He was 16th at the Kentucky Derby. His sire, Union Rags, won the 2012 Belmont. Neither Romans nor Albarado has won this race.

Bravazo

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Luis Saez

Odds: +670

Most believe Bravazo is the primary challenger on Saturday because he nearly caught Justify at the Preakness and probably would have won the race had it been at the Belmont’s length. Bravazo was sixth at the Kentucky Derby. Lukas last won the Belmont in 2000 (Commendable) and Saez hasn’t.

Hofburg

Trainer: William I. Mott

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Odds: +406

Hofburg has been lightly raced with just four outings and only one victory. He was seventh in the Kentucky Derby. Ortiz won the 2016 aboard Creator. Mott saddled 2010 winner Drosselmeyer.

Restoring Hope

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Florent Geroux

Odds: +3000

Interesting that Baffert would even enter another of his horses as potential competition for Justify. Restoring Hope likely will jump out to the early lead as he’s a “rabbit.” He last raced on the Kentucky Derby undercard and was 12th at the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile. Geroux has never ridden a Belmont winner.

Gronkowski

Trainer: Chad C. Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Odds: +2300

Yes, this horse is named after New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, and he has a stake in it. Gronkowski didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby due to an infection and his handlers skipped the Preakness. Gronkowski enters having won his past four races but none at this level, none on dirt and all at just one mile. Ortiz won the Belmont last year with Tapwrit, while Brown has yet to win it.

Tenfold

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Victor Espinoza

Odds: +1000

Like Justify, Tenfold didn’t race as a 2-year-old. He skipped the Kentucky Derby but finished third in the Preakness and was closing fast. Asmussen was the trainer for 2016 Belmont winner Creator, and Espinoza won the race in 2015 on American Pharaoh.

Vino Rosso

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

Odds: +800

Vino Rosso entered the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial but finished eighth in Louisville and hasn’t run since so the horse should be fresh. Pletcher saddled the 2017 Belmont winner Tapwrit. Velazquez has won it twice, last in 2012 aboard Union Rags.

Noble Indy

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Odds: +3000

Noble Indy was no match for Justify at the Kentucky Derby, finishing a whopping 42 lengths behind in 17^th place. However, Noble Indy did win the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March. Pletcher has won this race three times since 2007. Castellano is yet to.

Blended Citizen

Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill

Jockey: Kyle Frey

Odds: +1200

Blended Citizen is the only horse in this field with a win at Belmont Park, coming last month in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes. His only other stakes victory was also a Grade 3 race, so this is a major step up. Neither O’Neill nor Frey has won the Belmont.