It appears like a three-horse race within the 157th operating of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
The Belmont Stakes will characteristic a uncommon Triple Crown rematch of this 12 months’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners. Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will tackle Preakness winner Journalism after Sovereignty’s coach elected to skip the Preakness Stakes three weeks in the past. Baeza, who ran third within the Kentucky Derby and in addition skipped the Preakness, can be again for an additional strive towards each horses.
Solely eight horses are entered within the race, which can be run at 1 1/4th miles at Saratoga Race Course. That is the second straight 12 months the race can be run at Saratoga at a shorter distance. Belmont Park, which has hosted nearly each version of the race since 1905, is at present present process renovations.
Whereas the principle focus can be on the 1-2-3 finishers of the Kentucky Derby, Rodriguez, a newcomer to the Triple Crown rail, will even draw some consideration.
Skilled by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, Rodriguez was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby on account of a foot problem. Baffert informed the Each day Racing Type that he additionally bypassed the Preakness as a result of Rodriguez wanted extra prep time after the problem was resolved.
If both Journalism or Sovereignty wins, there can be a chance for a Kentucky Derby and Belmont double, or Preakness and Belmont double. Eleven horses have gained the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, whereas 18 horses have gained the Preakness and Belmont, the final horse being Afleet Alex, who got here in third within the 2005 Kentucky Derby however then gained the following two races.
Betting the Belmont
by Katherine Terrell
A small discipline and a heavy favourite like Journalism will not present an amazing return, so the principle focus of this betting technique can be to search for worth, if that is doable. Journalism definitely looks like the horse to beat on this discipline, though he’s the one horse who will run three races in 5 weeks.
Not one of the high three are going to supply nice odds, and it is doubtless that Journalism or Baeza will go off as the favourite, relying on what bettors imagine. Some would possibly imagine that Journalism is the true class of the sector and can win it doesn’t matter what, whereas others would possibly see Baeza as an ascending expertise who will solely get higher in his sixth begin (and is extra rested than Journalism, who has now completed forward of him twice).
There’s additionally the Sovereignty issue: Was his win over Journalism within the Kentucky Derby a results of their respective journeys, or is he really the most effective of the three? Will he have sufficient tempo on this discipline to shut into this race?
The doubtless winner: Journalism. Worth and relaxation are the explanations to wager towards him, but when the Preakness satisfied you, put a big wager on him to win once more.
The marginally higher odds wager: Put Baeza or Sovereignty on high of Journalism in exactas, with Rodriguez and Hill Street filling out trifecta bets.
Lengthy shot wager: Rodriguez. Journalism was clearly the most effective over Rodriguez in March, when Rodriguez completed third behind him within the San Felipe Stakes. However in the event you’re on the lookout for a contender with any type of value, remember the fact that Baffert and Smith have each gained the Belmont Stakes 3 times (as soon as collectively when Justify gained the Triple Crown in 2018).
Belmont notes and favourite performs
By Anita Marks
The third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown has arrived. No horse will have the ability to declare all three wins this 12 months, however there are nonetheless some nice storylines heading into Saturday. Let’s dive in.
-
For the second 12 months in a row, the Belmont can be run at a distance of 1 1/4 miles versus the normal 1 1/2-mile journey. Saratoga will as soon as once more be the location of the race with Belmont Park nonetheless present process renovations. With little or no pace on this race and just one legit nearer, the shorter distance makes handicapping tougher.
-
The 2 powerhouses meet once more! Sovereignty gained the Kentucky Derby however didn’t race within the Preakness in an effort to prioritize long-term well being and put together for the Belmont Stakes. He has had 5 weeks off to lock and reload for the final leg. Journalism gained the Preakness and can now be operating his third race in 5 weeks. How a lot gasoline does he have left in his tank?
-
Might Baeza pull off the upset? He completed third within the Kentucky Derby and was runner-up to Journalism within the Santa Anita Derby. Baeza’s dam, Puca, additionally produced 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and the 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch. The pedigree is there for Baeza to make historical past; it could be the third consecutive 12 months an offspring of the identical dam gained a Triple Crown race.
-
The pace within the race facilities round two horses: Rodriguez, who gained the Wooden Memorial, and Crudo, a Todd Pletcher horse and the son of Justify who has the pace to go wire to wire. Rodriguez was scratched from the Kentucky Derby on account of a foot damage and was not wholesome sufficient to race within the Preakness. This can be a Bob Baffert horse, and will probably be the proprietor’s fourth strive at capturing his fourth Belmont Stakes.
-
Hill Street is the most effective nearer on this race. Skilled by Chad Brown, Hill Street could have Irad Ortiz Jr., top-of-the-line jockeys on the earth, on his again. Hill Street loves this distance and has potential to drag the upset.
-
Coronary heart of Honor can be pulling on followers’ coronary heart strings! The colt is dealt with by the father-daughter mixture of coach Jamie Osborne and jockey Saffie Osborne. If Saffie wins, she’s going to turn into solely the second feminine jockey to win the Belmont Stakes. The primary was Julie Krone in 1993 on Colonial Affair.
Taking you to the window
-
Exacta field: Sovereignty, Baeza, Journalism
-
Baeza to win, place or present
-
Hill Street to position or present
