Belmont Stakes Odds Update: Top 3 Betting Picks for the Race

Previous Betting News

Even people who are not a huge fan of horse racing will still gladly plop down a few bucks when the Triple Crown races come around each year. If you haven’t played any of the first two races, then you are looking at your last chance to get into your online sportsbook and make a splash in the Triple Crown. This Saturday sees the final race of the grueling trio take place on Saturday, June 11 at Belmont Park in New York. There will be no horses looking to hoist the Triple Crown this time around, as Nyquist took the Kentucky Derby, while Exaggerator took the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Park. The Derby winner will not be running in this one, which will more than likely have Exaggerator in as the morning line favorite. Let’s take a look at some of the top betting odds for the big race, including a few exotics possibilities.

Inside Analysis on the 2016 Belmont Stakes Top Betting Picks

Top Picks to win the Belmont Stakes

As mentioned already, it will be Exaggerator who will be the favorite for the Belmont Stakes this weekend. He put in a stunning performance on an off track at the Preakness, and we can perhaps expect to see more of the same on Saturday, especially if Belmont Park gets some rain in the days leading up to the race.

Stradivari may only have raced four times heading into the Belmont, but this horse is a legitimate threat. The pace of the race did him in at the Preakness, but it’s not likely to be the same set-up on Saturday, which may allow home to strike coming down the stretch. Suddenbreakingnews maybe a horse that benefits from the longer distance of the Belmont, and he now also gets Mike Smith as his jockey. This is a man who has had plenty of experience in big races, and that may make a difference for this horse.

Top Exotic Picks for the Belmont Stakes

You have to figure that Exaggerator is going to be in the money, so it’s probably a good idea to go with him in all of your exotics picks. If you are not looking to spend a lot of money, you could key him on top in your bets, but you also run the risk of not cashing a winning ticket of he doesn’t finish first. I always like to box my exotics, especially in the bigger races where any of the horses in the field has a legitimate shot at winning.

For the exacta box, I will be playing Exaggerator, Stradivari, and will decide on the day whether to go with either Suddenbreakingnews or Brody’s Cause. I will have all 4 of the aforementioned horses in my trifecta box, and I will likely try to put those 4 into some sort of order so that I can play a $1 superfecta ticket.

There are a lot of good options here, so be sure to keep track of the live odds to get a better idea of where the best value lies.

Previous Betting News

When it comes to betting on horse racing, there are a number of different approaches that bettors can take to boost their bankroll. Where some will play smaller amounts in hopes of hitting the exotics, others will play larger amounts in the hopes of picking the horses that land in the money. Specifically, they will play a win, place, or show ticket, which is a pretty safe way to go if you want to get in on the Belmont Stakes action. These types of tickets are very straightforward, but they ca still pocket you some money of you make the right picks. Each of the payouts is based on the live odds when the race goes off, but they don’t all pay the same if you pick the same horse on each. A win ticket pays the most, as you get the full odds if your horse wins. A place ticket requires your horse to finish first or second, while the show ticket will pay if your selection lands in the top 3. Both of those wagers pay a fraction of the odds, but have the benefit of reducing your risk. Place and show tickets are a great option for those who don’t often play the horses, but who want to get in on the fun at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11.

Reviewing the 2016 Belmont Stakes Win, Place, Show Betting Picks

Possible win bets at the 2016 Belmont Stakes

When the morning line odds are released for the race, we are going to see Exaggerator as the favorite, and for good reason. He was the runaway winner in the slop at the Preakness Stakes a couple of weeks ago, and his biggest rival, Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, will not be running in this one.

If there is a horse with a legitimate shot of taking down the favorite in the Belmont, I believe it has to be Stradivari. I like him to stalk the pace and finish strong, giving him a real shot at mowing them all down in the long stretch run.

Possible place bets at the 2016 Belmont Stakes

Unless you are looking to play things really safe, I would probably skip playing Exaggerator in here. He is going to go off at very short odds, which means diminishing returns if playing him to place or show. Stradivari is a good option for the place bet, as is Suddenbreakingnews and Brody’s Cause. Both of those horses should go off at prices that would still make them profitable enough for a place bet this weekend.

Possible show bets for the 2016 Belmont Stakes

If you are planning on playing a show bet at the Belmont Stakes, your goal should be to look for a horse going off at longer odds. Brody’s Cause is one well worth looking at here, as is Cherry Wine, who just happened to finish second behind Exaggerator at the Preakness. Keep a close eye on the betting odds before placing any bets, as this will give you an idea of how much you will get back on your winning tickets.