Belmont Stakes Picks 2023: Vegas Odds and Predictions After Post Draw
The horses have shipped to Elmont, the draw is complete and the field is set. The 2023 Belmont Stakes is nearly here, with a nine-horse field vying for the $1.5 million purse Saturday.
There's no shot of a Triple Crown this year. Mage won the Kentucky Derby but was beaten into a third-place finish by National Treasure and Blazing Sevens at the Preakness.
Now, National Treasure will take aim at winning two of the three legs just weeks after edging out Blazing Sevens at Pimlico Race Course.
The final leg of the American Classic trio is the most grueling. It earns its "The Test of The Champion" moniker with a 1½-mile distance that tests every horse's endurance and a jockey's ability to manage their mount over a longer track.
Here's a look at the post-draw lineup and latest odds for the big race from New York.
Post Positions and Odds
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1. Tapit Shoes 20-1
2. Tapit Trice 3-1
3. Arcangelo 8-1
4. National Treasure 5-1
5. Il Miracolo 30-1
6. Forte 5-2
7. Hit Show 10-1
8. Angel of Empire 7-2
9. Red Route One 15-1
Odds via BelmontStakes.com
Preview
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As the odds indicate, there are multiple capable contenders in this nine-horse field. With the return of Forte and the presence of the Preakness winner among others, it's a strong field with several options to choose from when making wagers.
Forte has the shortest odds a few days before the race. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt was the morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby but was forced to scratch from the race just hours before post time with an injury.
That injury also held him out of the Preakness, but he appears to be fit and ready to showcase his talent.
"He's doing great, he's training really well. He hasn't missed any training," said Mike Repole, co-owner of Forte, per Beth Harris of the Associated Press. "We still think this is the best 3-year-old in the crop and on Saturday he's going to prove that."
It's a bit of a surprise that Tapit Trice is the second choice. He has the bloodline as a son of Tapit, but he came in seventh in the Kentucky Derby.
Still, Tapit has sired four Belmont winners already. His progeny have traditionally relished the 1½-mile distance which is why Tapit Shoes' connections likely entered their colt into the Belmont as well.
Tapit Trice was 2-0 as a three-year-old going into Churchill Downs with a win in the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes. Perhaps the additional rest and training has him in top form.
Angel of Empire is another colt looking for redemption after the Derby. He finished third coming off a win in the Grade I Arkansas Derby. Brad Cox will hope to win the race for the second time in three years after training 2021 winner Essential Quality.
National Treasure—fresh off a wire-to-wire win in the Preakness—comes in as the fourth choice, which shows just how strong Saturday's field is.
The Bob Baffert-trained colt had just enough kick at the end of the 1 3/16th-mile race to hold off Blazing Sevens down the final stretch. It's fair to wonder how he'll handle the added distance of the Belmont.
In terms of long shots worth taking a look at, Tapit Shoes stands out. As previously mentioned, Tapit has produced several Belmont winners, and the colt has been lightly raced so he could be a dark-horse contender.
Prediction
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It's a little boring to go chalk, but there's so much to like about Forte in this spot.
For one, the colt has only lost one race in his career and is 2-0 as a three-year-old. The son of Violence has the class and speed to run with any other Belmont entrant.
While connections to Tapit have proved to bring success at the Belmont, Todd Pletcher has made his mark on the race as a trainer. He's won the final leg of the Triple Crown four times since 2007, including last year with Mo Donegal.
Tapit Trice has both advantages in his corner and is a worthy opponent, but his disappointing run in the Derby is a hard hurdle to get over.
The only thing that has seemingly held back Forte is health. Now that's in order, he's the choice to capture the final jewel of the Triple Crown.
Prediction: Forte wins
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