After a dazzling Kentucky Derby victory, Rich Strike is back to try to snare two of the three Triple Crown legs. A win would go a long way for this horse as he is the only one capable of capturing more than one jewel of the Triple Crown.
As for the others, we see some horses who also ran in the Kentucky Derby like Mo Donegal and Barber Road set to do battle with some of the Preakness Stakes horses in Creative Minister and Skippylongstockings along with two fresh faces in We the People and Nest.
There are many factors to consider in this wide-open contest that should provide a nicely priced winner no matter who comes out on top.
Belmont Stakes picks
Horse racing analyst Monique Vág has her expert picks for horses to win, place and show at the 2022 Belmont Stakes below.
Don't forget to check out the Belmont Stakes odds.
- Win pick: No. 5 Creative Minister
- Place pick: No. 6 Mo Donegal
- Show pick: No. 1 We the People
- Trifecta pick: 5-6-1
Belmont Stakes picks analysis
Distance is always a thing to consider when handicapping the Belmont Stakes. This marathon distance is contested at 1 ½-miles and is something none of these 3-year-olds have ever tried before, and many will never race this long again. Stamina is a concern along with the pedigree to handle the distance. We can dig into breeding and see who is set up to succeed, but ultimately trip will dictate the winner.
Here's a look at the three horses I will for sure be using to round out my 2022 Belmont Stakes trifecta pick:
Win: Creative Minister
- Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
- Trainer: Kenneth McPeek
- Post position: No. 5
Creative Minister is lightly raced and seems to be getting better, not only from a Beyer Speed Figure perspective but on the whole. We last saw him finishing a good third in the Preakness Stakes. From a racing-style perspective, he's going to be positioned close enough to the early speed of We The People and looks to be one who benefits the most.
He will likely get the jump on some of the closers early on and get the first run at the pace-setter down the lane. He will need to take a big step forward to win, but he's trending in the right direction and definitely offers some value if you are looking to play spoiler. It's not uncommon to see that kind of progression in each start from three-year-olds on the whole.
Pick: Creative Minister (13/2)
Place: Mo Donegal
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- Post position: No. 6
Mo Donegal's best race was his Wood Memorial win where he saved all the ground early on and was able to run down Early Voting. When asked to run, he was put in a great spot by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Seeing the type of race Early Voting put forth off a nice trip in the Preakness Stakes, Mo Donegal's stock has to rise in this spot.
Another really good thing about this runner is his Maiden breaking score at Belmont Park last year. This is often a tricky dirt track and having racing experience and a win over it also adds to the appeal. He looms as the biggest threat and should have every shot to run down his opponents late.
Pick: Mo Donegal (5/2)
Show: We the People
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- Trainer: Rodolphe Brissett
- Post position: No. 1
We the People could definitely get away with manageable fractions and wire the group. Although the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park was his last victory — and it was not a deep group or tough field — he dominated over a sealed wet track that had the surface listed as "good."
He may have it exactly the way he wants it on the front end and he's been tough to track down when close or riding an early lead. His experience over the surface, being a fresh face, and overall speed all make this horse a warranted favorite and a major player in the Triple Crown's final jewel.
Pick: We the People (5/2)
Belmont Stakes straight trifecta pick: Creative Minister-Mo Donegal-We the People
More Belmont Stakes picks
Betting analyst Robert Criscola digs into odds and helps bettors make their exacta, trifecta, and superfecta picks for the 2022 Belmont Stakes.
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.
Belmont Stakes win, place, show FAQs
Mo Donegal and We The People are co-favorites to win the 2022 Belmont Stakes.
In 2022, a $2.00 wager net $4.60 on the winning horse on a win pick.
