When the horses take the track for the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes in Belmont Park, N.Y, today three horses will undoubtedly hold legitimate chances at finishing the Grade 1-stakes $1,000,000 purse race as the champion.
The last leg of the world-renown triple crown will be raced over the only 1 ½-mile track in the country and has always favored horses jockeyed by riders who are familiar with the digs. Hitting the turn with a lot of race still to conquer is something that has proven difficult in years passed for debut jockeys.
Ice Box (3-1) will likely be the favorite at post time and currently is the morning line favorite of the 12-horse field. No. 5 Fly Down (9-2) is another horse under the training of Nicholas Zito, as is No. 6 Ice Box, and will play a roll in the final stretch of the race with his closing style. Preakness runner up and current second choice, No. 11 First Dude (7-2), will likely race to the front of the pack and hold tough through the final furlong for an interesting finish.
Taking these three likely candidates, all as possible winners, the 142nd Belmont is going to be the race to nail. The exotic wagering is the route to take, because none of the three will be any higher than 2-1 by race time. Cracking the bank will rely on matching the horses that will fall in the bottom tier of the exotics.
Those horses start with the No. 8 horse Game On Dude (10-1), a middle-of-the-pack horse that is coming out of arguably the hottest barn in racing led by Bob Baffert. Baffert won the Preakness with Looking At Lucky , and could shake things up in the Belmont with Game On Dude.
No. 12 Interactif (12-1) is out of the Todd Pletcher barn, and has posted solid workouts in his recent drills. Interactif has been in the money in six of eight starts and will have a chance at the win being one of two race horses to have shown early speed.
The long shot to be reckoned with will be No. 3 Uptowncharlybrown (10-1), the morning line on this horse will likely get more profitable as post time approaches, but the chances of seeing this horse in the money are worth the shot. Landing in the money in four of five lifetime races also makes this long shot more attractive.
Make Music for Me (10-1) is another longer shot that has a chance to break into the exotics. The Alexis Barba trained horse has gained attention with a blistering finish for fourth-place in the Kentucky Derby and will likely have the value to help build a healthy trifecta or superfecta payout.
Like all of the Triple Crown legs, options will be plentiful and each wager will be based upon individual decisions. I know the route I’m taking, and I’m hoping that it can end with a pile of dough. The $1 superfecta with Ice Box, Fly Down and First Dude for the win and place, Game On Dude, Uptowncharlybrown, Interactif and Dave in Dixie for the place and hit the all button on the fourth place finisher and get ready for an exciting two-and-a-half minute ride.
Best Bet: No.6, Ice Box (3-1)
Trifecta: 6 with 5 with all (6/5/1,2,3,4,7,8,9-12)
Long shot: No.3, Uptowncharlybrown (10-1)
The last leg of the world-renown triple crown will be raced over the only 1 ½-mile track in the country and has always favored horses jockeyed by riders who are familiar with the digs. Hitting the turn with a lot of race still to conquer is something that has proven difficult in years passed for debut jockeys.
Ice Box (3-1) will likely be the favorite at post time and currently is the morning line favorite of the 12-horse field. No. 5 Fly Down (9-2) is another horse under the training of Nicholas Zito, as is No. 6 Ice Box, and will play a roll in the final stretch of the race with his closing style. Preakness runner up and current second choice, No. 11 First Dude (7-2), will likely race to the front of the pack and hold tough through the final furlong for an interesting finish.
Taking these three likely candidates, all as possible winners, the 142nd Belmont is going to be the race to nail. The exotic wagering is the route to take, because none of the three will be any higher than 2-1 by race time. Cracking the bank will rely on matching the horses that will fall in the bottom tier of the exotics.
Those horses start with the No. 8 horse Game On Dude (10-1), a middle-of-the-pack horse that is coming out of arguably the hottest barn in racing led by Bob Baffert. Baffert won the Preakness with Looking At Lucky , and could shake things up in the Belmont with Game On Dude.
No. 12 Interactif (12-1) is out of the Todd Pletcher barn, and has posted solid workouts in his recent drills. Interactif has been in the money in six of eight starts and will have a chance at the win being one of two race horses to have shown early speed.
The long shot to be reckoned with will be No. 3 Uptowncharlybrown (10-1), the morning line on this horse will likely get more profitable as post time approaches, but the chances of seeing this horse in the money are worth the shot. Landing in the money in four of five lifetime races also makes this long shot more attractive.
Make Music for Me (10-1) is another longer shot that has a chance to break into the exotics. The Alexis Barba trained horse has gained attention with a blistering finish for fourth-place in the Kentucky Derby and will likely have the value to help build a healthy trifecta or superfecta payout.
Like all of the Triple Crown legs, options will be plentiful and each wager will be based upon individual decisions. I know the route I’m taking, and I’m hoping that it can end with a pile of dough. The $1 superfecta with Ice Box, Fly Down and First Dude for the win and place, Game On Dude, Uptowncharlybrown, Interactif and Dave in Dixie for the place and hit the all button on the fourth place finisher and get ready for an exciting two-and-a-half minute ride.
Best Bet: No.6, Ice Box (3-1)
Trifecta: 6 with 5 with all (6/5/1,2,3,4,7,8,9-12)
Long shot: No.3, Uptowncharlybrown (10-1)
