Horse racing is a sensational sport. In the past, it was a pastime for wealthy individuals, and while it still retains its elegant culture, the sport has become more accessible to interested players, spectators, breeders, and a wider range of horses. Like any other sport, every horse racing season has a series of events such as the Breeders Cup, Epsom Derby, and the Triple Crown races.
The Belmont Stakes is the third race of the Triple Crown, a series of high-profile horse races, including the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. The first two races are usually scheduled for May with only three weeks between them, but after that, there’s a five-week gap before the Belmont Stakes.
The timed space between these competitions was designed to give participating horses time to recover from earlier races and give other horses time to peak before taking part in this competition. Besides its anticipated intensity, many gamblers can also wager on the races and make considerable returns. For interested punters, the live odds for this year Belmont Stakes are already available with many sportsbooks. You can start making your plans towards placing your wagers on your favorite horses.
This article will introduce the contenders for this competition.
Belmont Stakes – A Quick Overview
The Belmont Stakes is a horse race run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It’s the final leg of the Triple Crown series and was first held in 1867.
The race was named after August Belmont Sr., who organized and financed the event in 1867. Since then, it’s been held every year, save for 1911 and 1912, when gambling was banned in New York State for two years. Instead, it was run at Aqueduct Racetrack before finally settling in its current home at Belmont Park in 1905.
It was called “The Belmont Futurity” until 1916, when it was renamed the Belmont Stakes. The competition is sometimes called “The Test of Champions” because of how difficult it is for horses to win this particular race – many great horses have fallen short at this stage of their careers or even lost their lives trying.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for an exciting event where anything can happen — and probably will, then look no further than Belmont Park on the 11th of June, 2022.
The Top 7 Contenders For The Belmont Stakes
Every horse race event has favorites, and the case is the same for the Belmont Stakes. According to our research and the opinions of many experts, these are the top seven contenders for this year’s title.
1. Rich Strike
Rich Strike was the unexpected winner at the 2022 Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. Following a surprising scratch of a fellow contender, he was signed in for the event, where he eventually won after skipping the Preakness Stakes to prepare for it.
The American thoroughbred racehorse was crowned the Kentucky Derby champion with an 80 to 1 odds. After Donerail’s 91 to 1 odds in 1913, Rich Strike became the second horse ever to win the event with that kind of odds. With his line of victorious ancestry and excellent performance at previous competitions, many pundits and fans think Rich Strike might just win the top prize again at the racecourse in Elmont.
2. Ethereal Road
Remember the scratch that allowed the victory of Rich Strike? Yes. Ethereal Road was unexpectedly withdrawn from the 2022 Kentucky Derby due to reasons known to his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas. However, the enthusiastic horse won with a bang at the Sir Barton race in Pimlico.
Ethereal Road has emerged as a top contender in next weekend’s Belmont Stakes despite the rough start to his racing career. Since the start of the year, the horse has put together a remarkably consistent record, winning four out of five races and improving each time he takes the track.
3. Mo Donegal
There are many great horses to consider if you’re looking to bet on the Belmont Stakes 2022. Mo Donegal is one of the top contenders, and he should be included in your betting strategy.
Mo Donegal is a horse that has been in the news lately. It is owned by Donegal Racing and has been trained by Todd Pletcher. The trainer has said that Mo Donegal has all the talent needed to win this racing event, which means he could be a good choice if you’re looking for an underdog bet.
In addition to being trained by one of the best trainers in America, who also happens to be an excellent jockey, Mo Donegal also has excellent owners who want nothing more than their horse’s success. It can be said that they’ve done everything right so far during preparation time before heading out onto the course during pre-race day activities.
4. Creative Minister
Creative Minister is the 3-year-old son of Creative Cause and was third in the Preakness Stakes, 2022. It was bred in Kentucky (USA) by Dell Ridge Farm LLC. and trained by Kenneth G. McPeek and
Kenneth is known for his ability to discover great horses that win over and over again at many different tracks across America. He discovered Champion and Horse of the Year in the Kentucky Derby. Many even say he has a talent for discovering great horses at pocket-friendly prices.
This colt has never finished below third in any competition in his career. However, the owners have invested in his health and got him one of the best trainers in America to push him to the next level. Pundits expect a lot of magic from the legs of this well-bred colt, and many think he is in the running for the top prize.
5. Skippy Longstocking
Skippy Longstocking is a three-year-old trained by Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. and the jockey, Junior Alvarado. His breeder is up at Brushy Hill, LLC.
So far, he hasn’t posed a threat to other contemporary, especially the likes of Mo Donegal and Creative Minister. This doesn’t mean he doesn’t stand a chance to win, as he’s still in great shape. If anything, many observers think this might be his chance to announce his arrival on the big stage.
6. Nest
Like Mo Donegal, Nest is also trained by Todd Pletcher. The thoroughbred filly will be competing in the Belmont Stakes with an odd draw of 8 to 1. With his performance at the Kentucky Oaks, where he finished second behind Secret Oath at the Kentucky .
He also finished first at the popular Grade 1 Ashley Stakes in Keeneland – a race he finished in a dominating style. Going by his current form, many observers think Nest might be a great value for a top 3 finish at the Belmont Stakes.
7. We The People
We The People is not top on many people’s favorite list due to his disappointing seventh place at the 2022 Arkansas Derby in April. However, the Rodolphe Brisset-trained horse has turned things around since then and boasts three wins from four competitions. He is also the victorious winner of the Peter Pan Stakes.
A look into his ancestry also gives some promises. We The People was sired by Constitution, the winner of the 2014 Florida Derby. While the horse has never participated in any Triple Crown race, he will be racing at the Belmont Stakes, and many pundits think he might surprise quite a lot of people. Time will tell.
Final Thoughts
From all indications, there are some fantastic contenders for the Belmont Stakes 2022. Although the odds favor a few favorites, other horses have shown great potential as they’ve had impressive runs at previous races like the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
With so many talented competitors this year, it’s expected that fans will be offered a real treat, and punters can make some good money from their knowledge of the game.
Belmont Stakes Logo, Courtesy of NYRA, Belmont Park
