A deep field of 10 has assembled for the 156th Belmont Stakes tonight, and while some will focus on the battle between Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan and Preakness winner Seize the Grey or race favorites Sierra Leone and Mindframe, I'll take a look at the chances of some of the biggest Belmont Stakes underdogs and long shots on the board.
Belmont Stakes underdogs and long-shot bets for 2024
These five Belmont Stakes horses have long odds but shouldn't be overlooked. Learn more below and see how they line up in the Belmont Stakes odds.
Odds as of 6-7-2024
FanDuel Racing odds available in AZ, CO, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY
bet365 Belmont Stakes odds not available in the United States
Antiquarian
Antiquarian is one of only three horses entering the Belmont Stakes off a win and one of three entrants for four-time Belmont-winning trainer Todd Pletcher.
This son of Preservationist took the Peter Pan Stakes, the race Arcangelo used as a springboard to his 2023 Belmont victory, over a pair of today's rivals when last seen. He was the victim of a tough trip in the Louisiana Derby two-back that was compounded by his breaking through the starting gate early.
Antiquarian should sit an ideal stalking trip, and he's not that far off speed-figure-wise.
Honor Marie
I spoke at length about the brutal trip Honor Marie endured in the Kentucky Derby last time out in my Belmont Stakes predictions, where I made him my top pick to win this year's "Run for the Carnations."
Trainer Whit Beckman has yet to take a Triple Crown race, but new pilot Florent Geroux was aboard the official winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby in Mandaloun and is an eight-time Breeders' Cup winning jockey. Honor Marie has demonstrated enough talent in his Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes win and Louisiana Derby runner-up result to justify picking him to prevail.
The Wine Steward
The Wine Steward looks like another live Belmont Stakes long shot as he seeks to turn the tables on Antiquarian from his Peter Pan defeat.
There's enough speed signed on in the Belmont for him to be able to lay back and pick a target to run at. He was far from disgraced in his runner-up finish off the bench behind former Derby prospect Encino, and former Belmont-winning rider Manny Franco gets a leg-up. The Wine Steward could be ready to uncork a career-best effort in his third start off a layoff.
Dornoch
Dornoch was doomed in the Derby thanks to the rail draw, but the lack of development in his two other starts as a three-year-old is cause for pause.
This full brother to 2023 Derby winner Mage took advantage of a strong inside bias to defeat Sierra Leone in the Remsen to conclude his two-year-old season, then came back with a lackluster win in a compact renewal of the Fountain of Youth. He simply didn't answer the bell in the Blue Grass Stakes two-back as Sierra Leone blew him away.
Tough trip or not at Churchill, Dornoch appears in too deep on Saturday.
Protective
Siting alone as the longest shot on the board, Protective is the only maiden in the field at 0-for-4 lifetime. He was third in what wasn't a strong-looking rendition of the Wood Memorial two-back before checking in third again in the Peter Pan.
Though this Pletcher pupil is lightly raced, it's tough to see him improving enough to spring an upset as a Belmont Stakes underdog under Tyler Gaffalione.
Where can I bet on the Belmont Stakes?
This all depends on where you live. If you’re in the USA, betting on the Belmont Stakes online isn’t as simple as simply launching your favorite sportsbook app. Instead, you’ll have to use a specialist-pooled horse racing betting site such as TwinSpires.
Those in Canada or the UK have it much easier as most sports betting sites offer horse racing markets. Take a look at the top horse racing betting sites available in your area.
