2023 Belmont Stakes Betting Preview

Horse racing’s Triple Crown season concludes this weekend with the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.

There will be no Triple Crown winner this year and Kentucky Derby winner Mage won’t even be racing this weekend. At the Bovada Sportsbook the race favorite is Forte at +200. Forte was originally the favorite in the Kentucky Derby as well but was scratched the morning of the race due to a bruised foot.

Forte also skipped the Preakness Stakes and will be racing for the first time since April. As a three-year-old Forte has wins in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Florida Derby. He is trained by Todd Pletcher, who has trained four previous Belmont Stake winners with the last being Mo Donegal last year.

Angel of Empire follows on Belmont Stakes odds

Following Forte on the Belmont Stakes odds are Angel of Empire at +350, Tapit Trice at +400, and National Treasure at +600.

Angel of Empire finished third in the Kentucky Derby and did not race in the Preakness. Before the Kentucky Derby he won the Arkansas Derby and the Risen Star Stakes. Angel of Empire is trained by Brad Cox who trained 2021 Belmont winner Essential Quality.

Tapit Trice had a disappointing showing in the Kentucky Derby with a seventh-place finish. He did not race in the Preakness. Before racing in the Kentucky Derby he had won his last four races including the Blue Grass Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby. Tapit Trice is also trained by Pletcher.

National Treasure won the Preakness as a 4/1 underdog. In the Preakness he did not face any of the horses getting better odds in the Belmont. His win in the Preakness was his first as a three-year-old after previously placing fourth in the Santa Anita Derby and third in the Sham Stakes. National Treasure is trained by Bob Baffert who has trained three Belmont winners, the last being Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018.

Arcangelo follows the leaders on the betting lines

The only other horse in this year’s Belmont Stakes field getting triple-digit odds is Arcangelo at +800. Arcangelo did not race in the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes and has only raced four times in his career. As a three-year-old he did win the Peter Pan Stakes and a maiden special at Gulf Stream Park.

The rest of the Belmont Stakes field includes Hit Show at +1000, Red Route One at +1600, Tapit Shoes at +2500, and Il Miracolo at +5000.