ES 
NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
The final leg of this year’s Triple Crown racing series for the top three-year old Thoroughbreds in this year’s class takes place on June 5 as part of Belmont Park’s Saturday race card.
A field of eight has been set with post positions and morning line odds for the 2021 Belmont Stakes. This is the toughest test of the three Triple Crown races contested on dirt covering a distance of 1½ miles. The total prize purse for Saturday’s featured event is set at $1.5 million.
Betting this year’s race will challenge anyone’s sports handicapping skills with a very talented field. Digging deeper into all eight entries, I am ready to release my exotic bets for the final jewel in the crown.
2021 Belmont Stakes Exacta Picks
I went chalk on Essential Quality in the Kentucky Derby and came up empty on my exacta bet with his fourth-place finish. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by jockey Luis Saez, I still believe he is the best horse in Saturday’s much more manageable field.
Skipping the Preakness Stakes gave him more time to prepare for the added distance of the Belmont. Breaking from the No. 2 post, the son of Tapit has been opened as a 2-1 favorite on the morning line odds. This time around, I have him living up to all the expectations with a first- place run.
Rounding out the exacta play is Hot Rod Charlie breaking from the No. 4 gate at 7-2 odds on the morning line. Trained by Doug O’Neill, he will have Flavian Pratt as his jockey in this race.
I used this three-year colt as my place horse in the Kentucky Derby and he almost came through after finishing third. Going back to last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie finished first and second, it is only appropriate that they finish in the same order in the last big stakes race of the 2021 Triple Crown.
2021 Belmont Stakes Trifecta Picks
Moving down the list of contenders in this race, I decided to work Known Agenda into the mix for my trifecta bet. Trainer Todd Pletcher’s prized colt with break from the No. 6 post at 6-1 odds. His jockey for this race will be Irad Ortiz Jr.
Idle since his fade to ninth place in the Kentucky Derby, this is another colt that will benefit from the added rest. The son of Curlin still has the pedigree to win the Belmont Stakes but I like him better as the third choice.
2021 Belmont Stakes Superfecta Picks
Following Rombauer’s impressive victory in last month’s Preakness Stakes, it is easy to see why this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt is a 3-1 second-favorite to win another Triple Crown event. He has finished in the money in all three of his races this year.
Breaking from the No. 3 post position, trainer Michael McCarthy is once again turning to veteran jockey John Velazquez in this race. Not to take anything away from his stirring victory at Pimlico a few weeks back, the added distance of Saturday’s race could be enough to drop the son of Twirling Candy out of a top three finish this time around.
Best Pay Per Head Bookie Services
2021 Belmont Stakes Exotic Bets
Exacta: Essential Quality & Hot Rod Charlie
Trifecta: Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie & Known Agenda
Superfecta: Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie, Known Agenda & Rombauer
