Betting Saturday's Belmont Stakes

 My "best bet" picks for Saturday's Belmont Stakes are reposted below via permission from ScoresandStats.com

Betting Picks for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes

This Saturday’s Belmont Stakes marks the third and final event in the 2022 Triple Crown racing series for the best three-year old Thoroughbreds in this year’s class. This race is also the toughest test these contenders will face of the three, covering 1 ½ miles on the dirt track at Belmont Park in Elmont New York.

The total prize purse for this year’s Belmont Stakes has been set at $1.5 million as part of a full day of major graded events on Saturday’s card. A few of the other big betting events include the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap and the $750,000 Manhattan Stakes. All told, there are nine graded events in what should be an unbelievable day of exciting betting action at Belmont.

The field for the Belmont Stakes is set at eight with post time slated for 6:44 p.m. (ET). Going through the eight-horse field for Saturday’s main event, the following three entries stand out as my “best bet” trifecta pick along with one to watch that could easily figure into the mix.

Saturday, June 11

2022 Belmont Stakes – Belmont Park

Win: Mo Donegal

The son of Uncle Mo was one of my picks to finish in the money in this year’s Kentucky Derby but he faded to fifth. Breaking from the No. 6 post on Saturday, he has been opened as a 5-2 favorite to win. Trained by Todd Pletcher and jockeyed by Irad Ortiz Jr, I would have to agree with the morning line on this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt.

His biggest career win was in this year’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack on April 9. Racing at another New York track this Saturday, he appears to be the class of the field.

Place Creative Minister

Stretching the odds a bit at 6-1, this Kentucky-bred colt caught my eye with his third-place finish in May’s Preakness Stakes as the second leg of the Triple Crown. With Early Voting and Epicenter sitting out this year’s Belmont Stakes, the son of Creative Cause has a clear path to finishing in the top two.

Trained by Kenneth McPeek and ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez, he will break from the favorable No. 5 post on Saturday. The longer distance of this race should play into his strength down the stretch.

Show: Rich Strike

I am not taking anything away from this year’s Kentucky Derby winner as an 80-1 longshot. This victory will remain one of the biggest upsets in the history of major graded stakes racing. However, I do not see lighting striking twice for this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt. Rich Strike should be a factor in this race given the size of the field but the longer distance should keep him no better than third in the final finishing order.

Trained by Eric Reed, the son of Keen Ice will break from the No. 4 post on Saturday at 7-2 odds on the morning line. The second-favorite in the field will be ridden by jockey Sonny Leon.

One to Watch

The lone filly in the field is Pletcher’s Nest at 8-1 odds. She will break from the No. 3 post with jockey Jose Ortiz. She is coming off an impressive second-place finish in this year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill.