There will be no Triple Crown contender in Belmont Stakes odds but it still could be a big field of horses on Saturday, June 5th. There will be horses from the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in Belmont Stakes betting although neither winner of those races will be in the field. Belmont Stakes odds are likely to favor Kentucky Derby second place finisher Ice Box. Also in the mix should be Preakness second place finisher First Dude. “I think he’s going to move forward again,” First Dude trainer Dale Romans said. “The mile and a half suits him and we’re excited to go up there.” One horse that didn’t race in either the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness that should get some serious money in Belmont Stakes odds is Dwyer Stakes winner Fly Down for trainer Nick Zito. Ice Box is Zito’s top horse but Fly Down is going to be a threat. Zito has won the Belmont twice in the past with longshots Birdstone in 2004 and Da’ Tara in 2008. “Three weeks is an eternity, for horses,” said Zito, “If all goes well over the next three weeks, we hope to have two solid contenders, and I think Ice Box will be a legitimate favorite.” Zito could have three horses although Jackson Bend is not likely to run. “I never say never, but I doubt it,” Zito said. “I think he needs a rest. But you never know with him – he’s very, very, very tough. He wants to fight all the time.”
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will not be sending Preakness winner Lookin at Lucky in Belmont Stakes odds but he should have Game On Dude in the race. He won the Belmont with Point Given in 2001. “I like the Belmont,” he said, “It’s a long, tough race. When I ran my other horses for the Triple Crown, I had to give them a break. It’s tough on them.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher will not send Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver or Derby Trial runner-up Aikenite. There is an outside chance he could send Devil May Care in Belmont Stakes betting.
Some horses that will be in Belmont Stakes odds are Blue Grass winner Stately Victor for trainer Mike Maker, Uptowncharlybrown for Kiaran McLaughlin, Stay Put for trainer Steve Margolis, Make Music for Me who was fourth in the Derby, Dwyer runner-up Drosselmeyer, Santa Anita Derby and Sham runner-up Setsuko, Preakness fifth place finisher Dublin and Bank the Eight who won the Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico.