Belmont Stakes Expert Predictions and Betting Advice

Kentucky Derby Horses in the 2016 Belmont Stakes: Handicapping and Analysis
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2016

As is often the case, a large portion of the potential Belmont Stakes field is made up of horses who also ran in the Kentucky Derby. Also as usual, most of those horses haven't run since the Derby. This year we are looking at a Belmont field that could be as big as 13 horses, but it's more likely to be about 10 or 11. Seven of those horses were also in the Derby. There is a strong chance that one of those seven will be the winner of the Belmont, so it only makes sense to take a closer look at all seven (odds to win, when available, are from Bovada):

2016 Belmont Stakes Betting Advice: Handicapping the Fresh Horses
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2016

One of the many challenging parts of winning the Belmont as the favorite this year and in most years is that the favorite is running in their third race in five weeks, while most other horses in the race are much fresher. This year that is the case as Exaggerator is going to be heavily favored after being second in the Derby and winning the Preakness.

Cherry Wine Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2016

I don't think there were many handicappers out there who didn't even consider the possibility that Exaggerator could finish ahead of Nyquist - especially once the track came up sloppy. Far fewer, though, could have suggested with any confidence at all that Cherry Wine, a 17/1 horse, would also finish ahead of the undefeated Kentucky Derby winner and two year old champion. It wasn't by much of a margin, but margin doesn't matter, and the fact is that he crossed the finish line second in the Preakness.

Stradivari Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2016

Entering the Preakness there was a whole lot of enthusiasm surrounding Stradivari - a rare Todd Pletcher Preakness entry. Given the hype, the fourth-place finish had to qualify as a disappointment -- and a costly one for many bettors, myself included, who imagined him figuring prominently in the exacta and trifecta. It was one rough race after two super-horse performances, but it is hardly reason to write him off entirely. He's still a very raw horse with plenty to learn, but his upside seems nearly limitless.

Lani Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2016

Exaggerator is the iron horse - a horse that runs in all three legs of the Triple Crown - that everyone is paying attention to. He's not the only horse set to run in all three legs, though. Lani is also planning to do it, and he is one of the oddest horses on the Triple Crown trail in recent memory. It doesn't seem like he is a threat here, but he is starting to give off some signs that maybe he could be a factor after all - a factor that would pay a big price if he were to hit the board. So, can Lani have his best race of this Triple Crown trail in the Belmont?

Destin Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2016

Todd Pletcher had a massively disappointing Kentucky Derby - yet again. His Preakness didn't turn out like he hoped, either. Now he's on to the Belmont - with one horse from the Derby and one from the Preakness if all goes to plans. That's good news for him - this is a track he has dominated and the Triple Crown race he has done best in. Destin is hugely-talented, but the concern going into the Derby was that he was too rested and too inexperienced. Now he's a bit more experienced and well-rested again. So, can he be a big factor in this Belmont?

Governor Malibu Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2016

The Belmont wouldn't be the Belmont if it didn't have a horse or two completely out of left field entered. Of course, after the shocking win by Da' Tara in 2008 at massive odds we know we can't rule out any horse here. The grueling distance, and the fact that the favorites are often running for the third time in five weeks, means that anything can and often does happen here. But let's be clear - Da' Tara makes Governor Malibu look like American Pharoah in comparison.

Trojan Nation Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2016

Halfway through the second week between the Preakness and the Belmont we suddenly got word that Trojan Nation was being aimed at the Belmont. It was, to say the least, bizarre news. It's not uncommon to see a horse that has no business in the Triple Crown show up for a race. It is very rare, though, for that horse to return for a second shot after being shown just how out of place he was the first time.

Suddenbreakingnews Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/1/2016

Selfishly, I hope Suddenbreakingnews doesn't win the Belmont this year. I spend a lot of time each year writing about past winners of the race, and having to write this name for years to come just gives me nightmares. I may not get my wish, though. The fifth-place finisher in the Derby had a deceptively strong outing in that race, and he is bred to run forever. Oddsmakers have responded, making him the early second choice in the Belmont - albeit miles behind favored Exaggerator.

Exaggerator Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 5/31/2016

Exaggerator is one of just two iron horses in this field - he was second in the Kentucky Derby and took a step up the podium with a very impressive Preakness win. Now he is looking to cap the Triple Crown season with a second Triple Crown win - a victory that would put him in the driver's seat for three year old of the year honors.

Creator Odds to win the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Expert Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 5/31/2016

Creator came into the Kentucky Derby as the winner of the Arkansas Derby. That put him in esteemed company - Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh won the race in 2015, and Curlin, Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones and Victory Gallop are all modern winners of both the Arkansas Derby and at least one Triple Crown race. Creator has one more chance to join that esteemed group, but his first attempt in the Derby was not a particularly strong one - due to bad luck as much as bad performance.

How to Bet the Belmont Stakes in 2016: Expert Wagering Advice
by Trevor Whenham - 5/27/2016

This is not exactly the dream Belmont scenario this year. The Derby winner is on the sidelines, the prospective field is not hugely impressive, and at this point there is a shocking lack of early pace, so the large number of closers in the field are going to have to make tough choices and take big risks. It is certainly not going to be the easiest race you have ever bet on.

Betting on the 2016 Belmont Stakes: the Distance Factor
by Trevor Whenham - 5/27/2016

The significance of the distance can't be overstated in this race. At a mile and a half the race is not only further by at least a quarter mile than these horses have ever run before, but it is also further than they are likely to ever run again, further than the vast majority of thoroughbreds in North America will ever run, and further than almost all of these horses and most of the rest in North America are bred to run. The distance is almost always the single biggest factor in the outcome of the race, so it needs to be the single biggest factor in our handicapping.

2016 Belmont Stakes Handicapping: Early Look at the Field
by Trevor Whenham - 5/26/2016

Before the Preakness Stakes, most people hoped that the storyline for the Belmont Stakes would be a pursuit of another Triple Crown by Nyquist a year after American Pharoah's - just as Affirmed followed Seattle Slew in 1977 and 1978 the last time we had a Triple Crown winner. After Exaggerator pulled off the slight upset we were left with a story only slightly less compelling - the prospect of a grudge match between the two classic winners. But then Nyquist headed to the sidelines - slowed down by an elevated white blood cell count.

2016 Belmont Stakes Betting Trends
by Trevor Whenham - 5/26/2016

Handicapping the Belmont Stakes is always tough - at least unless there is a truly freakish super horse like American Pharoah who makes it simple. It's particularly tough this year. The field is full of closers and there is no obvious pace setter to develop the race for them, Exaggerator will go off at very low odds, and many of the other intriguing horses also need fast early pace they may not get and are coming off disappointing performances in the Derby.

2015 Belmont Stakes Post Positions with Expert Betting Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/4/2015

The question everyone wants answered concerning this weekend's Belmont Stakes is if American Pharoah can win the Triple Crown. Maybe the question they should be asking is whether or not it will be good for horse racing if he does win the Triple Crown. The 147th Belmont Stakes will take place at 6:50 p.m. on Saturday, June 6. The race will take place at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Television coverage of the event can be found on NBC.

2015 Belmont Stakes Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/3/2015

So, we are almost there. The Belmont Stakes. The latest date with destiny. Another Triple Crown on the line. It seems like we have a good shot at getting one this year. But we have said the same thing at least a half dozen times in the last 20 years. Will this year be different? Or will cruel history repeat itself once again? The truth is that I have no idea. What I can do, though, is make three Belmont Stakes predictions:

2015 Belmont Stakes Props Odds with Expert Betting Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 6/3/2015

The 2015 Triple Crown horse racing season comes to a close this Saturday with the running of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. All the buzz surrounding this year's event involves American Pharoah's bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 after posting impressive victories in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.

2015 Belmont Stakes Handicapping: Pace Scenario
by Trevor Whenham - 6/3/2015

The one thing we can be sure of when trying to figure out the Belmont Stakes pace scenario is that the race looks different now than it would have without the defections that have come lately. Carpe Diem and War Story both figured to press the early pace. Conquest Curlinate and The Truth Or Else were wildcards that could do pretty much anything to try and make their own luck.

2015 Belmont Stakes Betting Advice: Long Shots to Wager on
by Trevor Whenham - 6/2/2015

How good is American Pharoah? Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin wasn't paying close attention to his Belmont horse, Frosted, jogging on the Belmont track on Monday morning because he was too busy watching American Pharoah's timed work at Churchill Downs live on his iPad. And a group of other trainers were crowded around to watch as well.