Betting on the Belmont Stakes
by Patricia Woo | May 25 2009
Betting on the Belmont Stakes can be a tricky proposition. The third and final leg of the
Triple Crown series is a grueling 12-furlong course and is held at the unique track of Belmont Park; it is called the Test of the Champion for its reputation of being the downfall of many a Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion. Just in time for you to take advantage of great
Belmont Stakes futures, Bodog Racebook runs down three considerations to keep in mind when placing a wager on the 2009 Belmont Stakes.
Track Conditions
Currently, the weather in Elmont, NY, is unsettled. Thunderstorms are looming, and there is only a slight clearing trend towards the end of this week. So for this year's
Belmont Stakes, look for a contender who will be comfortable racing on an off-track - like this year's
Kentucky Derby winner and
Preakness Stakes runner-up Mine That Bird. This little horse has proven that his win at Churchill Downs on a sloppy track was more than just a fluke; the way he handled the track at Pimlico Race Course and came from behind to finish second by a mere length suggests another fine performance at Belmont Park is not out of the question. Another entrant to consider is Charitable Man, who has won at Belmont Park twice, most recently on May 9 in the Peter Pan Stakes - however, both wins were over fast or good tracks.
Horse Conditioning
The demanding nature of the Belmont Stakes is one of the main reasons why the Triple Crown remains so elusive: the so-called "Test of the Champion" requires incredible stamina. And it is the horses who are able to bounce back quickly from recent races or have had a light prep race schedule who often perform best. For example, in 2004 and 2006, horses who ran in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness won the Belmont (Birdstone and Jazil, respectively). This year, Dunkirk and Chocolate Candy ran in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness; they may be primed for Belmont Stakes success. On the flip side, of the 46 horses who have won two Triple Crown races, 16 were defeated in the Belmont (like Big Brown in 2008). This year, Mine That Bird and Flying Private (trained by D. Wayne Lukas) ran in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness; history is not on their side for a Belmont Stakes victory.
Race Length
The Belmont Stakes is a long race. At 1½ miles, it is longer than any prep race any of the contenders will have run leading up to Saturday, June 6. And
Belmont Park itself boasts wide, sweeping turns, giving the sensation of being on an incredibly long straightaway. So how could any horse bettor even begin to try to predict which horse has the ability to successfully navigate 12 furlongs? Look to his pedigree. Two of this year's Belmont Stakes contenders are sired by 2004 Belmont Stakes champion Birdstone (who was himself a longshot): Mine That Bird (trained by Bernie Woolley) and Summer Bird (trained by Tim Ice). Charitable Man again deserves mention in this category, as his sire Lemon Drop Kid prevailed in the 1999 Belmont. And the Eoin Harty-trained Mr. Hot Stuff was sired by Tiznow, who also sired the 2008 Belmont Stakes champion Da'Tara.
Ready to bet on all the horse racing action? Make a
Belmont Stakes wager at the Bodog Racebook!
