The Bill Mott trained Tacitus and Preakness Stakes winner War of Will figure to go off the favorites in the 2019 Belmont Stakes. Although both horses have the chance to run well, is either worth being the key horse in the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta? Check out our 2019 Belmont Stakes odds along with free exacta, trifecta, and superfecta picks!
2019 Belmont Stakes Trifecta, Superfecta, and Exacta Picks
- When: Saturday, June 8
- Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, NY
- TV: NBC
- Live Stream: NBCSports.com
2019 Belmont Stakes Odds
- Tacitus +160
- War of Will +200
- Everfast +800
- Spinoff +900
- Master Fencer +1100
- Intrepid Heart +1200
- Sir Winston +1600
- Tax +1600
- Bourbon War +1600
- Joevia +3300
Belmont Stakes Key Horse: Intrepid Heart +1200
Tacitus and War of Will should go off the favorite, but an underdog often wins the Belmont Stakes. More importantly, outside of Justify in 2018 and American Pharoah in 2015, Tapit has sired three of the last five Belmont Stakes winners: Tonalist, Creator, and Tapwrit.
Tapit sired Intrepid Heart. This horse managed to finish third in the Peter Pan Stakes. Although he went off at even money, the Peter Pan was only his third lifetime race. Intrepid Heart’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, has won the Belmont Stakes three times since 2007. If you’re looking for a top key horse that should offer double-digit odds, Intrepid Heart is that horse.
Belmont Stakes Exacta Picks
Use the following four horses in the exacta with Intrepid Heart:
Tacitus – Like Intrepid Heart, he’s sired by Tapit. He had a brutal Derby, but kept trying for a legitimate fourth place finish. Bill Mott, Derby winner Country House’s trainer, will saddle Tacitus.
War of Will – The Preakness winner could struggle to hit the board on Saturday. It’s hard to run three races at three different distances in the span of five weeks. Then again, he might just be the best three-year-old in the nation. Plus, he should offer better odds than Tacitus, boosting the exacta payout.
Sir Winston – He made a great closing move in the Peter Pan. Unfortunately, that race at 1 1/8 miles was much too short for Sir Winston’s closing kick. At 1 ½ miles, his kick could mean more. One thing to note is that sometimes closers fair poorly in the Belmont Stakes because they’re so far behind a slow pace.
Tax – He got stuck inside in the Derby. With a better trip, he might have finished hit the board. The field for the Belmont Stakes will be much smaller. Tax has every right to prove he’s one of the better three-year-olds in the nation. Plus, he’s trained by a New York based horseman, Danny Gargan.
Belmont Stakes Trifecta Picks
Set up a trifecta play like this:
- First – Intrepid Heart
- Second – War of Will, Sir Winston, Tax, Tacitus
- Third – War of will, Sir Winston, Tax, Tacitus
- Fourth – All
Play a smaller trifecta with Intrepid Heart if you want a saver bet:
- First – War of Will, Sir Winston, Tax, Tacitus
- Second – Intrepid Heart
- Third – War of Will, Sir Winston, Tax, Tacitus
- Fourth – All
Belmont Stakes Superfecta Picks
If the superfecta hits with Intrepid Heart on top, it should pay well. This is the way to set up a superfecta keying Intrepid Heart and using the horses in the exacta.
- First – Intrepid Heart
- Second – Tacitus, Sir Winston
- Third – Tacitus, Sir Winston, War of Will, Tax
- Fourth – All
A superfecta ticket like this should cost $42 for $1. The payout if it hits will be much greater than $42.
