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2020 Belmont Stakes Predictions with Morning Line Odds

by Raphael Esparza - 6/18/2020

Midnight Lute, a horse

Saturday at an empty Belmont Park is the running of 152nd Belmont Stakes, one of the Kentucky Derby prep races in Elmont, New York. Last year at the Belmont Stakes we saw a big upset as Sir Winston rallied to beat the favorite (10) Tacitus, and the other notable horse (9) War of Will didn’t even hit the board.

 

2020 has been a weird horse racing season as the Kentucky Derby is normally the first race of the Triple Crown but has been moved to September 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Preakness was moved to October 3, so this Saturday the Belmont Stakes is the official start of the Triple Crown season.

 

Saturday’s Belmont Stakes edition features 10 entrants, and this 1 1/8 mile race is going to be very entertaining. If you didn’t notice, the distance has changed this year at Belmont Stakes as the “Test of the Champion” was a taxing 1 ½ miles but this year the distance is 1 1/8 miles. A small handful of horses could hit the board, and let’s face it, points are needed in this race if you want to go to the Derby in early September. Here are the highlights of the field followed by some predictions (Odds are the morning line track odds).

 

  1. Tap It To Win (6-1)
    Tap It To Win was dominant at Belmont Park earlier this month, and Saturday could see a repeat performance. With jockey John Velazquez on this mount -- and the success at Belmont -- this horse can easily hit the board. Keep an eye out for line movement on this horse because I don’t see 6-1 when the horse heads to the gate.

 

  1. Sole Volante (9-2)
    Here is another horse that can easily hit board Saturday night. Sole Volante was the winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Park in February. And if you are looking for a true closer, this could be your horse.
     
  2. Max Player (15-1)
    Tons of question marks with Max Player on Saturday. Big jockey upgrade as Joel Rosario gets the mount, and last year Rosario was on Sir Winston and won the Belmont Stakes. Max Player will be overmatched, and I will be completely shocked if he hits the board.
     
  3. Modernist (15-1)
    Modernist already shocked me once, winning the Risen Star as a 12-1 underdog, but I don’t see lightning striking twice. If you’re looking to throw in some long shots in a Trifecta or Superfecta, this could be that horse.
     
  4. Farmington Road (15-1)
    Farmington Road has tons of stakes experience having raced in the Risen Star and the Arkansas Derby, but he could be lost on Saturday. The bright spot is that he has closing speed. And if the pace is fast, Farmington Road could spoil things for some Belmont Stakes bettors. Going to be interesting to see what kind of line movement we will see on this horse.
     
  5. Fore Left (30-1)
    This horse should push the pace right from the start, but I see Fore Left fading quickly. In my eyes, I don’t see Fore Left winning the Belmont Stakes or hitting the board.
     
  6. Jungle Runner (50-1)
    Jungle Runner will be the biggest long shot on the Belmont Stakes betting board and has no shot of winning or hitting the board.
     
  7. Tiz The Law (6-5)
    The betting favorite is the best horse in this race, and Tiz The Law comes to the Belmont Stakes winning 4 out of 5 career starts. If Tiz The Law runs like he did in the Florida Derby, the favorite will win this race and then be the big betting favorite at the Kentucky Derby. He will be the horse to beat, and frankly I don’t see him getting beat.
     
  8. Dr Post (5-1)
    Dr Post won the Unbridled Stakes at Gulfstream. And if he can avoid traffic down the stretch, this horse could spoil some tickets. Dr Post will come off the pace, and from what I have seen in past performances the distance at Belmont should favor him. This horse could easily hit the board and pay well.
     
  9. Pneumatic (8-1)
    I’m Really shocked that the opening line for Pneumatic was 8-1 and not double-digits. Finished third at the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs but gave away the lead and Saturday I just don’t see Pneumatic running a good race at Belmont.

 

2020 Belmont Stakes Free Pick
 

$2.00 Trifecta Box = $48
(Not in order)

(2) – Sole Volante
(5) – Farmington Road
(8) – Tiz The Law
(9) – Dr Post

 

Raphael Esparza is one of the best handicappers in all sports. This weekend Esparza will have plays from Horse Racing, Korean Baseball, Taiwan Baseball, Soccer and UFC. Saturday Esparza will have a full card at Belmont Park and Esparza will be releasing a 7-Unit Head-to-Head Belmont Stakes matchup. New clients can take advantage of  Doc's no-hassle $60 free picks offer and get Esparza's weekday picks .

 

 

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