2021 Belmont Stakes Odds and Predictions

The 2021 Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of this year’s Triple Crown racing series. Highlighting Saturday’s race card at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, this is also the most grueling test for this year’s top three-year old Thoroughbreds covering 1½ miles on the dirt. The total prize purse is set at $1.5 million.

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The field for this year’s Belmont Stakes has been set with eight entries. Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit is sitting this one out but Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer is set as a 3-1 second-favorite on the morning line odds.

The overall field for this race may be smaller than expected but it is deep in talent with as many as five colts in excellent position to win. Going through the list, here is a closer look at my three choices to finish in the money.

Betting the Favorite

Essential Quality was a 9-5 favorite to win this year’s Kentucky Derby and he slipped to fourth in a crowded field. After skipping the Preakness Stakes, the Kentucky-bred colt comes into this race as a 2-1 favorite.

Trained by Brad Cox, he will break from the No. 2 post with Luis Saez as his jockey. The son of Tapit was my top choice to win at Churchill and I am leaning that way again in the featured race at Belmont Park this Saturday afternoon. Going back to his days as a champion two-year old, he has posted five victories in six races. Five of those races were major graded events.

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A Hot Horse to Bet

Starting with his second-place finish behind Essential Quality in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, Hot Rod Charlie was one of my favorite contenders on the Kentucky Derby Trail. He placed third at Churchill coming off a thrilling victory in this year’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

As the No. 4 horse in this race, the son of Oxbow will go off at 7-2 odds with jockey Flavian Prat leading the way. Trained by Doug O’Neill, he has placed in the money in each of his last five events. I have him chasing down the favorite again on Saturday in another second-place finish behind Essential Quality.

Bet on What You Know

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s top entry in this year’s Belmont Stakes is Known Agenda. Coming off a fade to ninth in the Kentucky Derby, this Kentucky-bred colt with break from the No. 6 gate at 6- 1 odds on the morning line. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is slated to get the ride.

Sired by Curlin, this horse has the pedigree and the stamina to win the Belmont Stakes. However, I like him as my third choice. The biggest victory of his career was in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at a distance of 1 1/8 mile. Since the disappointing finish at Churchill, Pletcher has used the extra time training him for the longer distance of this race. All the extra work pays off with a finish in the money on Saturday.

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The Best of the Rest

Preakness winner Rombauer drew the third post for this race as the second favorite. Trained by Michael McCarthy, veteran jockey John Velazquez adds some value to his 3-1 odds.

Another colt to watch on Saturday is trainer John Sadler’s Rock Your World at 9-2 odds on the morning line. Breaking from the No. 7 gate, jockey Joel Rosario will be leading the way.

Find out who the best sports handicappers are by reading through our reviews