The final leg of the Triple Crown series in the United States will take place in June. Unfortunately, no Triple Crown champion will be crowned at Saratoga this year, as two different winners have come out on top in the opening two legs.
Mystik Dan was a memorable winner of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs at the start of May, before he could only finish second behind Seize The Grey in the Preakness Stakes two weeks later.
However, both runners could be among the stars that could take their chance at the Belmont Stakes next month, but what are some of the most popular betting markets to explore?
Win Betting
The Belmont Stakes attracts both experienced and newcomers to betting to make a wager on the horse racing action, meaning that the win market remains among the most popular when making selections on the race.
Here, the bettor will simply be looking to pinpoint the runner that will win the Belmont Stakes, with the returns awarded should the selected horse be the first past the finishing line. However, the stake is lost should your selection finish second or worse.
Place Betting
The Belmont Stakes is typically the shortest field of the Triple Crown races, meaning that there is little value in the odds available when betting on the race. However, the place betting market remains one of the most popular choices for gamblers, as it offers insurance for gamblers, as they will get paid out should their selected runner finish second or third.
This is typically most popular with bettors who are looking to wager on an outsider in the field, as there is often very little value when siding with a short-priced favorite to place in a raw. But, if your outside selection finishes in the first two, it could be a solid betting market.
Exotics Betting
Exotics are among the most popular betting options for gamblers throughout the Triple Crown series in the United States, as they offer stunning value if you are able to select the first two or three runners over the line. To land an Exacta, bettors must correctly wager their funds on the runners that will finish in exactly first and second.
The Trifecta is even more challenging to land, as the bettor must find the runners that finish first, second, and third in the correct order. Bettors will also have the opportunity to box selections in these markets, meaning that you can cover more horses, giving you a better chance of finding the horses that will finish in the required positions. However, it is worth remembering that the stake for the bet is higher should you include more runners in your wager.
Distance Betting
If you are sure about your winning selection for the Belmont Stakes, then the distance market could offer excellent value for your selection. Here, you will be able to bet on the number of lengths that your preferred runner will win the Triple Crown race by.
However, it comes with its own disadvantage, as the stake will be lost should your selection claim victory but not by the desired distance. This is an excellent market for experienced bettors who take extra time in their research when assessing the speed ratings, as it offers an excellent route of value to get even greater odds on your selection being a winner.
It could be an excellent option though, evident last year when Arcangelo finished over a length clear of pre-race favorite Forte.
Belmont Stakes Contenders
The final field for the Belmont Stakes won’t be officially declared until a few days before the race on June 8. However, some connections have already teased a potential run in the race for their star performers. You can check all the likely contenders here, though: https://www.twinspires.com/belmont-stakes/contenders/
D. Wayne Lukas is very keen to run Preakness Stakes victory Seize The Grey at Saratoga this year, as he hopes that a second Triple Crown victory could be on the cards.
Mystik Dan could also be another intended runner, despite having been busy throughout May after winning the Derby and finishing second in the Preakness. A lot of runners from the Derby who missed the Preakness will also be back on the Triple Crown trail.
Sierra Leone was an incredibly unlucky loser at Churchill Downs, but Chad Brown revealed after the race that the three-year-old would be pointed toward Saratoga. Fierceness and Honor Marie finished well back in the Derby field and will also likely line up in the Belmont Stakes this year.
Todd Pletcher’s Antiquarian could be one of the most interesting runners after following the Arcangelo path following his victory in the Peter Pan Stakes. He wasn’t far behind some very talented three-year-old runners when sixth in the G2 Louisiana Derby in March.