After being run as the first leg of the Triple Crown last year, the 2021 Belmont Stakes returns to its traditional place on the calendar: early in June, five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. The race will be run on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
The Belmont Stakes is one of the best horse races of the year, and the most important race in the state of New York. It will be run at its traditional distance of 1 1/2 miles, making it the true Test of the Champion. The race drew a field of eight to run for a $1.5 million purse as well as the traditional blanket of carnations draped up on the winner after the race.
Belmont Morning Line Odds
These are the official entrants for the 2021 Belmont Stakes, along with their post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning line odds:
- Bourbonic - Todd Pletcher/Kendrick Carmouche (15/1)
- Essential Quality - Brad Cox/Luis Saez (2/1)
- Rombauer - Michael McCarthy/John Velazquez (3/1)
- Hot Rod Charlie - Doug O’Neill/Flavien Prat (7/2)
- France Go de Ina - Hideyuki Mori/Ricardo Santana, Jr. (30/1)
- Known Agenda - Todd Pletcher/Irad Ortiz, Jr. (6/1)
- Rock Your World - John Sadler/Joel Rosario (9/2)
- Overtook - Todd Pletcher/Manuel Franco (20/1)
The morning line odds, however, are not necessarily the odds you will actually get on the horse. They are only the track’s best guess as to what each horse’s tote board odds will be once posted time comes around.
The best way to lock in the best odds on your Belmont Stakes horse is to bet the Belmont stakes online when the odds at an online sportsbook are what you’d like to get for your horse. The current odds at some of the best online sportsbooks are features below:
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Belmont Stakes Online Betting
Before you handicap the Belmont, make sure you set up your account to bet the Belmont Stakes online. Our review of the best online sports betting sites give you trusted information from online betting experts, so you can get the best odds while betting the race from the safety and convenience of your own home.
These websites all have trusted deposit and cash-out options, good odds on the Belmont and many other races all year long, as well as player incentives like deposit bonuses and horse racing rebates. They will have live odds on the Belmont Stakes, and some even offer Belmont Stakes wagering contests where you can match wits against other players!
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Belmont Handicapping
Now that you know where you can bet the Belmont, let’s learn a little more about handicapping Belmont Park, and about who the contenders are in the Belmont Stakes.
Belmont Park Handicapping Tips
Belmont Park is different from a lot of American tracks. Instead of being a mile or a mile and an eighth round, the dirt at Belmont is a full mile and a half around, meaning jockeys who aren’t accustomed to riding it can sometimes move too early and not conserve enough for the long, sandy stretch.
Many of the jockeys riding in this year’s Belmont Stakes are quite experienced over the course. Irad Ortiz, Jr., who rides Known Agenda, is the current leading rider. Neither Ricardo Santana, Jr., who rides France Go de Ina nor Flavien Prat, who rides Hot Rod Charlie, are regular jockeys in the Belmont colony. The rest of the jockeys do ride there regularly.
Many people fall into the trap of thinking that closer will win because the race is longer. However, that proves not to be the case. Horses don’t have to be right on the front end, but to have the best chance of winning the Belmont a horse should be at least tactical enough to stay in touch with the leader through the early and middle stages of the race.
Belmont Stakes Contenders and Longshots
Essential Quality will probably be the Belmont favorite. He lost for the first time ever in the Kentucky Derby, but after a rough start, he did well to rally for fourth in a race where speed held so well. He is tactically versatile, and his rider Luis Saez has been riding the Belmont dirt well. It also helps that he is by Tapit, who has sired three Belmont winners already.
The best chance to upset Essential Quality belongs to Known Agenda. He is trained by Todd Pletcher, already a three-time Belmont winner, and ridden by leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Known Agenda was compromised by a rough start from the rail in the Kentucky Derby, but drew better in a smaller field this time and should be able to settle in a range early. He is also bred well on both sides of his pedigree for the stretch out to a mile and a half.
Rock Your World also has a strong chance in the Belmont. He drew outside the other likely speed in the race and should be fast enough to clear off. Belmont can play speed-friendly, particularly on big days, meaning Rock Your World is the one they’ll probably have to catch. Though a mile and a half is long for a Candy Ride, he has enough turf stamina on the dam’s side to give him a chance to stay on the trip.
Rombauer and Hot Rod Charlie will both be bet heavily, but both have questions. Rombauer is in great form for as shrewd a trainer as is in the game, but the mile and a half stands to test his stamina. Hot Rod Charlie also has serious pedigree questions on the dam’s side, and his trainer Doug O’Neill has a poor record in the Belmont.
For a long shot in exotics, consider Overtook. The third-stringer from the Todd Pletcher barn, he has an excellent pedigree for the stretch out to a mile and a half. And, even though Pletcher has won three Belmonts, he not only does well with chalk horses but also longer shots bred well for the trip. He should improve second off the lay and can add spice to the exotics.
Free Belmont Picks
Here are the best bets for the 2021 Belmont Stakes:
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$20 win - Known Agenda
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$2 exacta key - Known Agenda with Essential Quality and Rock Your World
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$1 trifecta key - Known Agenda with Essential Quality, Rock Your World, and Overtook
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$0.20 superfecta key - Known Agenda with Essential Quality, Rock Your World, Overtook, Rombauer
