Tradition is a major factor that leads to Triple Crown thoroughbred horse racing. Starting with the first Saturday in May and the Kentucky Derby. Preakness Stakes fans love their event because of the infield party zone. And the stately Belmont Stakes is known for its mile and a half “Test of the Champion.” COVID-19 has completely flipped the Triple Crown betting script for 2020. Instead of being the final Triple Crown race, the Belmont will go first. And the Preakness has the potential to host the Triple Crown clinch. If there is a horse good enough that is.
2020 Belmont Stakes Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, June 20, 2020, 3 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Belmont Park, Elmont, New York |
| 2020 Belmont Stakes TV Coverage: | NBC |
2020 Belmont Stakes Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Basin | +1800 |
| Dr Post | +500 |
| Farmington Road | +1600 |
| Gouverneur Morris | +800 |
| Max Player | +1200 |
| Maxfield | +375 |
| Mischevious Alex | +550 |
| Modernist | +1400 |
| NY Traffic | +2800 |
| Shivaree | +1400 |
| Sole Volante | +650 |
| Tiz The Law | -150 |
| Field (Any Other Horse) | +300 |
Of course, the Belmont Stakes is best known as where the Triple Crown champion clinches immortality. Everyone remembers Secretariat in 1973 blowing away the rest of the field to clinch the Triple Crown. Most recently American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 earned sports betting legacies. Each clinched the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes. Specifically, this mile and a half race will be shortened to a mile and one eighth for 2020.
2020 Kentucky Derby
| Date and Time: | Saturday, September 5, 2020, 2:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2020 Kentucky Derby TV Coverage: | NBC |
2020 Kentucky Derby Odds:
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ajaaweed | +3000 |
| Authentic | +750 |
| Azul Coast | +1800 |
| Basin | +3000 |
| Cafe Pharoah | +2000 |
| Carpe Omnious | +3850 |
| Cezanne | +1000 |
| Chance it | +3850 |
| Country Grammer | +3850 |
| Dennis’ Moment | +3250 |
| Devil Made Me Doit | +2500 |
| Dr Post | +2000 |
| Enforceable | +2450 |
| Ete Indien | +1600 |
| Finnick The Fierce | +2500 |
| Gouverneur Morris | +1350 |
| Green Light Go | +2450 |
| Honor A.P. | +400 |
| Independence Hall | +1950 |
| King Guillermo | +1500 |
| Liam’s Point | +3250 |
| Max Player | +2450 |
| Maxfield | +440 |
| Mischevious Alex | +1000 |
| Mo Hawk | +3250 |
| Modernist | +2450 |
| Money Moves | +3250 |
| Pneumatic | +3250 |
| Royal Act | +2000 |
| Silver Prospector | +3250 |
| Silver State | +3250 |
| Sole Volante | +1850 |
| Storm The Court | +1500 |
| Structor | +2500 |
| Tiz The Law | +220 |
| Toledo | +3850 |
| Untitled | +2450 |
| Wells Bayou | +1950 |
| Field (Any Other Horse) | +300 |
The “Run for the Roses” is the most famous horse race in the world. More emphatically the tradition and setting make it the dream win for everyone in the sport. Derby Day normally sets the tone for the Triple Crown betting season. Indeed, the winner of the Kentucky Derby gets a two-week onslaught of publicity. Which usually means the Derby winner is the Preakness favorite. For 2020 that will not necessarily be the case. To show the Kentucky Derby winner must have already won the Belmont to have a shot at the Triple Crown.
Also true is the fact that many owners and trainers would be completely satisfied if the Derby is all they win in 2020. The blanket of roses and high profile trump all other considerations. Kentucky Derby glory is the ultimate Faustian bargain that most any horseman will gladly make. Overall “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” is bigger than the sport itself. Kentucky Derby TV viewership and betting handle dwarf all other races. Fans that care nothing about horse racing will watch and bet with passion.
2020 Preakness Stakes
| Date and Time: | Saturday, October 3, 2020, 4:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Pimlico Race Track, Baltimore, Maryland |
| 2020 Preakness Stakes TV Coverage: | NBC |
| 2020 Preakness Stakes Odds: | Click Here |
Admittedly the Preakness Stakes is the least revered of the Triple Crown races. Trainers such as D. Wayne Lucas like the more relaxed attitude after the intensity of the Kentucky Derby. Subsequently, this year potentially changes the dynamics. If there is a horse running for the Triple Crown the pressure will be full blast. By contrast, if there is no such horse the Preakness will be largely ignored. Especially with college football being televised on multiple channels.
A Once in a Lifetime Triple Crown
In view of the COVID-19 forced change in the schedule, this will be a Triple Crown season like no other. From this point is potential peril and opportunity.