Covering 1.5 miles on dirt, these three-year-old thoroughbreds will compete for the final jewel in
the Triple Crown series and $1.5 million in prize money.
I have handicapped the nine-horse field for the Belmont Stakes and came up with my favorite,
three legitimate contenders and one live longshot to win this race.
My Favorite
Forte was a 3-1 favorite in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, but he was scratched with a bad foot.
Waiting his turn, he is a 5-2 favorite in the Belmont Stakes and is leading the field of nine horses
in the race. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., this Kentucky-bred colt
won a pair of major prep races at Gulfstream Park in March and April. Forte should be in first or
second place in the stretch run of the Belmont Stakes to finish in the money.
Three Legitimate Contenders
My top contender for the Belmont Stakes is Angel of Empire at 7-2 odds on the morning line. As
one of the three main horses in this race, he has the pedigree to win as a son of Classic Empire.
Angel of Empire is trained by Brad Cox and he raced at Oaklawn Park, Fair Grounds and
Churchill Downs as a three-year old. He finished first, second or third in all those horse tracks
over the course of his three-year-old career. Angel of Empire should finish in the money as the
winner or in second place.
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Todd Pletcher is also the trainer for Tapit Trice and this three-year-old colt is starting the
Belmont Stakes at 3-1 on the morning line odds. Ridden by jockey Luis Saez, Tapit Trice was
the favorite at post time in the Kentucky Derby, but he finished seventh in the final order. Sired
by Tapit, he won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in March and he finished first at Keeneland in
the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on April 8.
National Treasure is my third legitimate contender at 5-1 odds on the morning line for this race.
Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by jockey John Velazquez, he won the Preakness Stakes
after bowing out in the Kentucky Derby. National Treasure finished fourth in the Grade 1 Santa
Anita Derby on April 8 as a major prep race for the Triple Crown series. Under tougher
conditions in the Belmont Stakes, National Treasure could manage a top-three position with a
clean start.
One Live Longshot
After placing second in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, Hit Show finished fifth
in the Kentucky Derby on May 6. Also trained by Brad Cox and ridden by jockey Manuel Franco,
he is a live longshot at 10-1 in the Belmont Stakes. As a son of Candy Ride and a pedigree
back to Tapit, Hit Show can shake up the running order by finishing in the money in this race. He
has the power to stay in the leading mix over the stretch run.
Also be sure to check out Ken Strong’s Belmont Stakes Predictions!
