2018 Belmont Stakes Betting Preview: Dark Horses & Longshots

We could see a little bit of history made this coming Saturday, June 9 at Belmont Park, as Justify will hit the dirt at Belmont Park in NY with a shot at winning the Triple Crown. It would be only the 13th time that a horse has completed this feat, which somewhat suggests that the 2018 Belmont Stakes Betting odds are stacked against him. Let’s not forget that when American Pharaoh won it in 2015, he broke a run of 36 failed Triple Crown attempts, so it’s fair to suggest that Justify has it all to do this weekend. As you would expect, though, he is in as the heavy favorite in the early going, with his current odds sitting at 4-5. Those odds may get even worse for the average bettor, as you can be sure that a lot of money is going to be heading in the direction of Justify. When you have a horse that is a clear favorite, the rest of the field immediately become dark horses. Let’s take a look at a few who might just be able to spring the upset at the Belmont Stakes.

2018 Belmont Stakes Betting Preview: Dark Horses & Longshots

#BelmontStakes150 #Hofburg 🏇

Learn more ➡ https://t.co/cbkVX0Fco1 pic.twitter.com/iNYQkPU4uh — Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) 4 de junio de 2018

• What: 150th Belmont Stakes
• When: June 9, 2018
• Where: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York, U.S.
• Post time: 6:37 p.m ET
• TV: NBC
• Live Stream: NBC Sports app

Bravazo

• 2018 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds: +430

He was about two strides away from running Justify down at the Preakness, and he may well benefit from the fact that the Belmont Stakes is a grueling mile and a half race. Bravazo still had gas in the tank in the Preakness, while Justify looked very much like a tired horse. As it stands right now, Bravazo is sitting at 7-1 in the betting odds, which I think is a ridiculously good price. That number may drop as the race gets closer, so if you believe that he is the horse to break Justify’s heart this weekend, then I would get in on him right now.

Hofburg

• 2018 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds: +600

Currently, this horse is the second favorite, which may come as a surprise to those of you who watched him finish well off the pace at the Kentucky Derby. What you may not have noticed in that race was that he had a pretty awful trip, getting bumped and jostled more than once. That he was able to make a strong run coming home should tell you that he is a quality horse. With just 9 horses expected to be in the field at the Belmont Stakes, Hofburg should have no problem running the race that he wants, which makes him a very dangerous proposition in my eyes.

Tenfold

• 2018 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds: +580

This is another horse that had a very positive run at the Preakness, coming in 3rd at very long odds. While his performance there was good, the concern here is that he may be surpassed by the horses who skipped the Preakness, as they are sure to be a good deal fresher than Tenfold. Still, he proved in that race that he could hang with the big boys, so he is certainly worth having a look at, even if for nothing more than adding him to your exotics wagers.

Vino Rosso

• 2018 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds: +1100

This is a horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby, but who did not really seem to care for the sloppy track that day. A horse that is good enough to make the Derby should certainly be considered a threat here, especially when you consider that he was held out of the Preakness to be given some time to rest up and train for this one.

Last 20 Belmont Stakes Winners

• 2017: Tapwrit
• 2016: Creator
• 2015: American Pharoah
• 2014: Tonalist
• 2013: Palace Malice
• 2012: Union Rags
• 2011: Ruler on Ice
• 2010: Drosselmeyer
• 2009: Summer Bird
• 2008: Da’Tara
• 2007: Rags to Riches
• 2006: Jazil
• 2005: Afleet Alex
• 2004: Birdstone
• 2003: Empire Maker
• 2002: Sarava
• 2001: Point Given
• 2000: Commendable
• 1999: Lemon Drop Kid
• 1998: Victory Gallop