Belmont Stakes, Our Predictions

The 2022 Belmont Stakes will be run Saturday at approximately 6:50 PM ET. Eight horses are on the card to enter the starting gate. The race will be televised on the NBC Network. Simulcast viewing and wagering is available at the two Florida tracks today; Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.

The Belmont is the longest race of the Triple Crown series, at 1-1/2 miles on the dirt track. It is a race of stamina as many horses do not enter many 1-1/2 mile races in their careers. It’s 440 yards longer than the Kentuck Derby track at 1-1/4 miles.

We favor Mo Donegal, at 5:2 Morning Line odds. The horse finished 5th in the Kentucky Derby, and quicky made ground over the field from 14th to 5th from the 2nd call. Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the mount for trainer Todd Pletcher. Mo Donegal also beat the Preakness winner Early Voting (not racing today) by a neck in  the Wood Memorial back in early April at Aqueduct. Skippy Longstocking (ML: 20:1 today) got the SHOW that race.

Next, we’ll wager up on Creative Minister, who ran third in the Preakness Stakes in the 9 horse field. In the money for all 4 races thus far. We like Kenny McPeek’s chances here.

Lastly, who could leave out Rich Strike, the Kentucky Derby winner at 80:1 odds. Rich Strike sat out the Preakness, so he’s well rested. At 7:2 Morning Line odds, he’s sure to get bid down by post time; for maybe sentimental reasons partially.

In case you are wondering about our Florida horses as part of the mix today. The last horse to race in Florida to win a Triple Crown race was Swiss Skydiver in the 2020 Preakness stakes; Ken McPeek was the trainer then, and trains Creative Minister in today’s outing.

So in sum, we are going with the likey favorites today, and tossing in We the People in the 1 post for our Superfecta wager.

Rich Strike, Post 4 under Sonny Leon; last race, WON Kentucky Derby
Mo Donegal, Post 6 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.; last race 5th in Kentucky Derby
Creative Minister, Post 5 under Brian Hernandez, Jr., 3rd in Preakness

The wagers:
$1 Exacta Box: 4/5/6  total $6.00
$3 Win/Show:  6     total $6.00
$2 Win/Show:  5     total $4.00
$0.50 Trifecta Box: 6/5/ALL  total $3.00
$1 Superfecta:  6/5/4/1,2 total $2.00

Good Luck and thanks for reading!

 

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