The Belmont Stakes is one of the most important horse races of the year, and you have found the best place for expert 2021 Belmont Stakes Picks and betting advice.
After running as the first leg of the Triple Crown last year due to COVID-19 rescheduling of races around the country, the Belmont Stakes is back to its traditional place on the calendar. It will be run on Saturday, June 5 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
Though it covered only 1 1/8 miles last year, it returns to its historic 1 1/2-mile distance this year, making it truly the Test of the Champion. The race drew a field of eight of the best three-year-olds in the United States, including Preakness winner Rombauer and two-year-old champion Essential Quality.
The Belmont Stakes offers a purse of $1.5 million, an iconic blanket of carnations, and a place in horse racing history. The race is scheduled for 6.49pm EDT, or 3:49pm PDT.
These are the official entrants for the 2021 Belmont Stakes, along with their post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning line odds:
Though these odds reflect the morning line, they are only the track’s best guess as to how the pools will look when the gates fly open on Saturday. Your best chance to get the best Vegas odds is to sign up for a trusted sportsbook and bet the Belmont Stakes online. That way, you can lock in real Vegas odds when you bet your horse.
| Belmont Stakes betting odds 2021 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Quality | +225 | +200 | +200 |
| Rombauer | +375 | +300 | +275 |
| Hot Rod Charlie | +400 | +350 | +550 |
| Rock Your World | +425 | +450 | +500 |
| Known Agenda | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Bourbonic | +1800 | +1500 | +2500 |
| Overtook | +2500 | +2000 | +2500 |
You used to have to go to the racetrack or a casino to bet the best Vegas odds on the Belmont stakes and other horse races throughout the year. However, online sportsbooks can give you the best Vegas odds from the comfort and safety of home.
Though there are many options out there, our comprehensive guide to the best online sportsbooks helps make your decision easier. It is full of information from our Vegas betting experts, who have found trusted betting sites that are easy to use, reward players with great sign-up bonuses and rebates, and give the best Vegas odds.
This means you will always get more for your betting dollars all year long!
Handicapping the Belmont Stakes requires a lot of skill and analysis. Belmont is a unique track, so jockeys and trainers who do well there all year long have an advantage. Pedigree also matters a lot in the Belmont, since none of these horses have gone a mile and a half yet and most American horses are not bred to go that far.
The likely Belmont favorite is Essential Quality. Even though he lost for the first time ever in the Kentucky Derby, he still ran an excellent race. He had a tough start and was taken farther off the pace than he otherwise would have been, and even though speed held well he rallied to be beaten by only a length. He is a versatile horse who can get a cleaner trip this time.
Essential Quality also has some promise for the mile and a half distance. His female family has a lot of route-distance class, and his sire Tapit has produced three Belmont winners already.
Known Agenda has the best chance to upset Essential Quality. He had a difficult time in the Kentucky Derby; early trouble from his rail draw left him near the back early, and he could only rally to finish midpack. This time he faces a smaller field and gets a cleaner draw in the 6 gate. He has an excellent pedigree to stretch out, and both jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trainer Todd Pletcher excel at Belmont.
Rock Your World is a threat from the front end. He was knocked off of his running style after a tough start in the Kentucky Derby, but he drew well in the Belmont and shapes as controlling speed. Whether he can stay a mile and a half is the question, but there is some nice turf stamina on his dam’s side, giving him a chance to keep on.
Questions surround two other horses likely to take money, Rombauer and Hot Rod Charlie. Rombauer is in excellent form, after a win in the Preakness, but his pedigree raises questions for the mile and a half. The underneath side of Hot Rod Charlie’s pedigree also lacks mile and a half stamina, and his trainer Doug O’Neill has a poor record in the Belmont.
Overtook is the most intriguing longshot in the Belmont. He has to improve off of his previous graded tries. But his pedigree, top and bottom, appeals strongly for the distance. He handled the sandy Belmont surface well enough in the Peter Pan to suggest he doesn’t dislike it, and his trainer Todd Pletcher is strong in the Belmont with longshots as well as chalkier horses.
Here are your best bets for the 2021 Belmont Stakes!
The races leading into the Belmont are some of the best races of the year in all divisions. Saturday’s card features eight graded stakes other than the Belmont, all but one of them being Grade 1. Make sure to consider these horses in win and exotic wagers throughout the day:
