Wide Open Belmont May Produce Big Payday
By Carlo Campanella

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Without the possibility of a Triple Crown winner, or the presence of the recent Kentucky Derby or Preakness winners, the Belmont Stakes will not be much of a media darling or attract much attention from the average fan.  In fact, it will be only the third time in the past 36 years that that the Belmont will not feature a winner from one of the first two legs of the Triple Crown.  The last time this phenomenon occurred was back in 2000 when Fusaichi Pegasus and Red Bullet both failed to show, allowing the 18 to 1 Commendable to steal the third jewel of The Crown, and leading a $213 Exacta payoff even with favored Aptitude finishing second.  With an evenly matched field of up to 10 starters and the lack of a true favorite, this year’s Belmont is geared towards horseplayers and gamblers looking for another big score.  The absence of the “horse to beat” will make this one of the most evenly matched and exciting Belmont Stakes in the last decade and allow horseplayers to find exceptional betting value in the Exacta and Trifecta pools.

The Belmont is known for producing upset winners and large payoffs. The 1 ½ mile race, which is a ¼ mile longer then the Kentucky Derby, is a true test of endurance that most young horses aren’t bred to handle. We’ve seen some of the best race horses in the world fail at this extended distance and it’s the major reason we haven’t seen a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.  Toss in the fact that these Triple Crown competitors were trained to peak for the Kentucky Derby and now those grueling 5 weeks between the first and third leg have left many of these warriors weak and weary.  Since 1999, an amazing four of the seven Belmont winners paid at least $28 to win, including Lemon Drop Kid (1999) at $60, Commendable (2000) at $38, Sarava (2002) at $142, and Birdstone (2004) at $74.

With such accomplished favorites as Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and Charismatic all failing to win the Belmont at short odds, it would appear that this year’s post time favorite is more vulnerable than ever before.  No matter who you like, you can be sure that you’ll get a fair price! 

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