As BetAnySports customers know, this is not a year like other years. And because of that, the same luster that has surrounded the Belmont Stakes in past years does not surround it now. For many, the idea that it was the “test of the champion” revolved around the distance, which is customarily a mile and a half. But as a residual effect of the pandemic, that has been cut to just a mile and an eighth. So it is a very different race, and in a sense, it becomes little more than a prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
But don’t let that spoil the fun for you. Despite injuries that have knocked out contenders like Bob Baffert’s duo of Charlatan and Nadal, not to mention Maxfield and Wells Bayou, there is a legitimate favorite who might be a threat to win all three Triple Crown races.
Tiz The Law – Undoubtedly the one to beat
There are a lot of things that Tiz The Law has going for him. One is the post position (#8) which allows him to take an outside path. This was very comfortable for him in winning the Holy Bull and Florida Derby. He is the only horse in this field to have recorded a Grade I win. That isn’t something to take lightly when it comes to handicapping Triple Crown races.
There is an opportunity for him to get right behind the early pace-setters and then use his class to advantage. The reduction in the distance doesn’t hurt either. Tiz The Law apparently likes Belmont, having won there before.
Can anyone else win this thing? Well, let’s check the odds and see who might present some value.
Here are the numbers…..
As they are posted in the BetAnySports sportsbook. Please take note that you can also wager on propositions and two-way bets in the sportsbook. In the racebook, you can wager on the Belmont as a pari-mutuel experience:
BetAnySports Belmont Stakes Odds to Win
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| 1 – Tap It To Win | +750 |
| 2 – Sole Volante | +700 |
| 3 – Max Player | +2000 |
| 4 – Modernist | +2500 |
| 5 – Farmington Road | +2500 |
| 6 – Fore Left | +4000 |
| 7 – Jungle Runner | +6600 |
| 8 – Tiz The Law | -140 |
| 9 – Dr. Post | +750 |
| 10 – Pneumatic | +1450 |
Take note that the Belmont Stakes will go off at approximately 5:42 PM ET on Saturday at Belmont Park right outside of New York City. You can tune in to NBC Sports to see it.
Other contenders?
There is some feeling that a horse like Tap It To Win, with early speed and the #1 post to boot, jumps out to an early lead and manages to hold on to it at this distance. And a lot of people are mindful that trainer Mark Casse is looking to extend a winning streak of sorts. You see, he has won the last two Triple Crown races – with War of Will in the Preakness and Sir Winston in last year’s Belmont. Still, against this class of competition, even thinned out by injuries, he’ll have a heavy task.
There are late runners who are being given a real chance to hit the board. One of those is Sole Volante, who is coming back from only a ten-day layoff. Will that account for him being a tired horse? His backers hope not, since he is going to have to take advantage of others who tire in order to have a chance. It would appear that Patrick Biancone’s charge will get a swift early pace, which would only help. And you can say the same thing about Farmington Road, for that matter. Those are the deep closers relative to the others. And Modernist has to be considered in this group as well. This is a son of Uncle Mo who can really bring it and is trained by the Hall of Famer, Bill Mott, who gave yours truly a nice payout some years ago in this event with Drosselmeyer.
Many observers are very wary about counting out Dr. Post. Primarily that is because he is trained by Todd Pletcher, and the rationale is that if he is high on the horse, he is not wasting his time.
You could see a milestone of sorts here, if Max Player has his way. Linda Rice will be trying to become the first female trainer to win the Belmont. But you also have to remember that this horse has not raced since February 1.
If you are stuck on the favorite……
Then maybe you’ll just want to have Tiz The Law up top, then figure out who to put underneath. Since the distance is shorter, the dynamic of this race changes. Well, at least in relation to the other Triple Crown events. But there is always a market for closers. So Modernist and Sole Volante are there to make up a lot of ground in a short amount of time and perhaps should be considered.
And don’t forget that the BetAnySports racebook is “Plus 10%,” which means that you can get your normal winnings plus a 10% boost at the racetracks that are included…….. And in the sportsbook, you can take advantage of two-way bets, propositions and head-to-head matchups – stuff you can’t find elsewhere……….. Open up your account with a debit card or credit card, person-to-person transfer or the virtual currency of Bitcoin, which is fast and easy with their automated system, and NEVER incurs a transaction fee!
