Belmont Stakes betting guide with horse-by-horse odds and tips
THE Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of the U.S Triple Crown, which can’t be won this year, but the 2400m tests the best three-year-olds in the states and always makes for enjoyable viewing.
The group 1 feature won’t include 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist which pulled up with a high temperature last start, but Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator will line up and punters have taken a liking to the talented colt.
It has taken the majority of the money since winning a wet-and-wild Preakness Stakes and it looks a great chance over the longer distance. The main rivals in the market are Suddenbreakingnews, Stradiveri and Destin which all look like winning hopes.
The race is run on Sunday morning at 3.52am so take a Belmont Stakes bet at Sportsbet.com.au and wake up to a healthy account.
Belmont Stakes horse-by-horse tips
2016 Belmont Stakes market:
1. Governor Malibu – $17
2. Destin – $9
3. Cherry Wine – $11
4. Suddenbreakingnews – $7
5. Stradivari – $8
6. Gettysburg – $51
7. Seeking The Soul – $51
8. Forever D’oro – $51
9. Trojan Nation – $41
10. Lani – $13
11. Exaggerator – $2.50
12. Brody’s Cause – $13
13. Creator – $15
1. Governer Malibu: $17
Trained by Christophe Clement, this three-year-old colt didn’t run in the first two legs of the Triple Crown which makes it a dangerous proposition. It won back-to-back races last preparation and its most recent results include a second placing in the Group 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont.
That track experience will help and it likes to settle back during the run and launch late. Punters in Australia are getting a better price than bettors in the U.S (12/1) so there is good value with this runner.
2. Destin: $9
Champion trainer Todd Pletcher has been looking for more distance for Destin and he gets it here. The three-year-old colt by Giant’s Causeway finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby after getting a checkered run and it bypassed the Preakness Stakes to wait for the Belmont Stakes.
There has been solid support in the betting throughout the week and again Sportsbet.com.au is giving away much better odds. It is currently a $7 chance with American bookmakers, so if Destin is your desired runner, sign up with our Australian bookmakers for the best value.
3. Cherry Wine: $11
We thought Cherry Wine was a chance in the Preakness Stakes and it didn’t let us down. The Dale Romans-trained colt ran the race of its life to finish second behind Exaggerator and it narrowly edged out the previously unbeaten Nyquist on the line.
The connections were supremely confident heading into that race and that confidence wouldn’t have taken a hit. It was doing its best work late in the race and although it’s tough to line up the form on the sloppy tracks, it deserves some attention at a double-figure price.
4. Suddenbreakingnews: $7
This colt has been well backed in from $10 to $7. It comes into the Belmont Stakes having had a month off since running fifth in the Kentucky Derby. Punters were impressed with that run and figure that it will enjoy the 2400m on Sunday.
It has been working very well since the Derby and it has the breeding to suggest it will get the distance. The $7 is a little short for our liking as it hasn’t won a race since February, but we respect the market move and we wouldn’t leave it out of calculations.
5. Stradivari: $8
Another Todd Pletcher runner which had three runs prior to running fourth in the Preakness Stakes and those runs came in very low grades. The sloppy track might have helped last start so it’s hard to weigh up its chances back on a firm track, but it still looks a winning chance.
The colt is by well-known sire Medaglia D’oro and we know getting the 2400m distance won’t be a problem. It could well be a late-maturing horse for the future and we look forward to seeing it race next season as a four-year-old.
6. Gettysburg: $51
Gettysburg has no real form to speak of, with its last win coming in January in a maiden race. Its best effort since was a second placing behind Collected which is good enough form to suggest as a place chance in this, but it showed nothing against a weak field last start and punters should forget about backing this Kentucky-bred colt.
7. Seeking The Soul: $51
Three-year-old for Dallas Stewart having just its third race day start. Finished fifth in a maiden event last time out and that form is hard to recommend. Should be paying triple figures and we’re giving it no chance of getting close to them.
8. Forever D’oro: $51
Won its only start on debut so we can’t fault its form, but it hasn’t chosen an easy second up assignment. The Dallas Stewart-trained colt is another sired by Medaglia D’oro and the distance should suit, but it would take a mammoth effort to win a group 1 at only its second start.
Adds some interest to the race, but we couldn’t suggest taking the $51 in this situation.
9. Trojan Nation: $41
Familiar breeding strikes again with Trojan Nation which is sired by Street Cry. The three-year-old colt had been in consistent form without winning prior to the Kentucky Derby, but it failed to impress anyone with a 16th place finish.
It has yet to win a race and we can’t see that coming in the Belmont Stakes.
10. Lani: $13
This Japanese colt has produced fair runs in both Triple Crown races to date, with a fifth in the Preakness Stakes last start its best finish. The UAE Derby winner looks fit heading into the Belmont Stakes and Japanese horses are built tough.
It hasn’t had the best of luck so far this season and it was forced wide in both the Derby and the Preakness. With a better trip in transit, it could figure in the finish at $13 with Sportsbet. Definitely one of the better bets at double-figure odds.
11. Exaggerator: $2.50
Easily the most impressive horse in the field after winning the Preakness Stakes with ease. That followed a great run for second in the Kentucky Derby and we labeled it the firm Belmont Stakes contender following that effort. The firmer track is no problem and jockey Kent Desormeaux shouldn’t have any problems finding a nice position in the race.
It loves to get back and run on so the distance will suit and even though the $2.50 is short, it’s better than what’s being offered in the states. $2.50 at Sportsbet for Exaggerator is the best bet to place.
12. Brody’s Cause: $13
There has been some support at $13 for the Group 1 Blue Grass Stakes winner and although it couldn’t follow that win up in the Kentucky Derby, it has been given plenty of time to mature and strengthen. The Dale Romans-trained runner finished seventh in the Derby, but its best claim to fame was beating Exaggerator in the Group 1 Breeder’s Futurity as a two-year-old.
Has the goods to take this out and it looms as a major place chance. Take the $13 as a saver bet at Crownbet.
13. Creator: $15
Creator is a group 1 winner when taking out the Arkansas Derby two starts back. It was unable to fire in the Kentucky Derby when finishing 13th and the spark might have been taken out of it. We feel it’s better suited over shorter distances and it could be struggling come the end of the 2400m.