A field of nine three-year-olds squares off in the Grade I, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes this evening at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.
The third jewel of the Triple Crown will see Forte, the morning-line favorite for the 2023 Kentucky Derby who was scratched less than 24 hours before the "Run for the Roses" due to injury, seek redemption.
Forte was set as the 5-2 morning-line selection for the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes, but is he the best bet out of all the Belmont Stakes horses?
Check out my free betting picks for win, place, and show in the 2023 Belmont Stakes, and don't forget to check out my Belmont Stakes trifecta, superfecta, and exacta picks for even more insights.
2023 Belmont Stakes picks
Belmont Stakes win bet
Hit Show appears to be offering great value in the Belmont Stakes odds at 10/1, and will be my top pick to win this race.
He was last seen running fifth in the Kentucky Derby, going the wrong way down the stretch. However, Hit Show was within 1 1/2-lengths of a brutally fast pace in the "Run for the Roses." He had every right to get a little tired late, as the pacesetters threw it into reverse in the lane.
Hit Show has three wins under his belt from six lifetime starts, and was a narrow runner-up in the Grade II Wood Memorial two starts ago.
Hit Show's pedigree certainly doesn't preclude him from getting the demanding 1 1/2-mile distance in the Belmont, as he's sired by Candy Ride out of a Tapit mare named Actress, who was a multiple graded stakes winner going route distances. Candy Ride has sired numerous classic-distance horses of note, namely Breeders' Cup Classic champ Gun Runner. Tapit has sired four Belmont Stakes victors, including Essential Quality in 2021.
Essential Quality was trained by Brad Cox, who saddles Hit Show on Saturday. Manny Franco, who guided Tiz the Law to a Belmont victory in 2020, will be the jockey.
Horses that have gone from the Kentucky Derby straight to the Belmont without any races in-between (including the Preakness) have won five of the last nine renewals of the "Run for the Carnations" (excluding 2020, when the Belmont was run first).
Win pick: Hit Show
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Belmont Stakes place bet
Arcangelo has just four career starts to his name, making him the lightest-raced runner in the Belmont Stakes field. His latest outing makes him a serious player in here, and the fact that he still has room to grow only makes him more appealing.
The Jena Antonucci trainee made his stakes debut a winning one on May 10, taking the Grade III Peter Pan over this course with a determined and well-rated effort. He had the services of 2023 Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Javier Castellano that day, and the veteran pilot will be aboard once more.
Antonucci, who will try to become the first woman to train the Belmont Stakes winner, has Arcangelo working incredibly well for the race. The book isn't written on Arcangelo's sire Arrogate, who has realized only two full crops, but he already has his first $2 million earner in Secret Oath, who will compete in the Grade I Ogden Phipps on the Belmont Stakes undercard. Arcangelo's dam is the unraced Modeling, who was also sired by Tapit.
Place pick: Arcangelo
Belmont Stakes show bet
Tapit's influence on the 2023 Belmont Stakes continues with Tapit Shoes, another offspring of the three-time leading North American sire.
Though Tapit Shoes has just a maiden victory to his credit, he has improved from start to start in his brief five-race career, most recently landing second in the Bath House Row Stakes going 1 1/8-miles at Oaklawn Park. He was close to the pace that day but showed no signs of fatigue, even as he was caught and passed late by Red Route One. The stretch out to 1 1/2-miles on Saturday could work to his benefit.
Tapit Shoes should also be close to a fairly moderate pace, as he drew the rail and may only see National Treasure try to contend with him for the lead. Cox is the trainer, and former Belmont Stakes winner Jose Ortiz sees fit to pick up the assignment. At 20/1, he's worth at least including underneath.
Show pick: Tapit Shoes
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.
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.
