The field in Belmont Stakes odds got a little bigger on Monday as trainer Todd Pletcher decided to enter Interactif.
The turf specialist was not expected to be entered in Belmont Stakes betting but the field is so weak that Pletcher wanted to take a shot.
Belmont Stakes odds will not favor Interactif but he is definitely a horse who could pull off the upset. The horse was prepping for Friday’s Grade 3 Hill Prince at Belmont so he is right on schedule to run. Interactif was a great turf horse last year as he won the With Anticipation and Bourbon Stakes and he was a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Pletcher decided to enter Interactif in Belmont Stakes odds after the horse looked great going six furlongs in 1:14.29 at Belmont. The purse is so high in the Belmont that Pletcher wants to take a shot. Since the Belmont does not include Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver or Preakness winner Lookin at Lucky, it could be that the race is there for the taking. There are some good horses in the race though including Nick Zito’s Ice Box who was second in the Kentucky Derby and Fly Down who won the Dwyer Stakes. Zito has won the Belmont twice in the last six years with longshot winners in 2004 with Birdstone and in 2008 with Da’Tara.
Another contender in Belmont Stakes odds should be Preakness runner-up First Dude. He ran really well in the Preakness but was not able to hold off Lookin at Lucky. Other contenders include Kentucky Derby fourth place finisher Make Music for Me. He went five furlongs in 1:01.21 at Belmont for trainer Alexis Barba. Dwyer runner-up Drosselmeyer could definitely improve after failing as a big favorite. Other horses in the growing Belmont field are Dave in Dixie who will be ridden by Kentucky Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel, Game on Dude, Spangled Banner, Stately Victor, Stay Put and Uptowncharlybrown. A week ago it was looking like a field of 10 in Belmont Stakes betting but in the last few days Dave in Dixie and Interactif has been added to the field. The late additions could mean better prices if one of the longshots happens to come through.