Once again we will not have a horse racing Triple Crown winner making the running of the 2023 Belmont Stakes kind of anticlimactic. There is some drama, however, with Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure looking to end a four-year run with no multiple leg Triple Crown winners. National Treasure led out of the gate at Pimlico and with Hall of Fame connections in trainer Bob Baffert and jockey John Velasquez, you’d expect him to be higher up the horse racing odds board at BetRivers sportsbook.

Viewed as the top three-year-old prior to the Triple Crown races, Forte will be making his first start after being a late scratch from the Kentucky Derby. Being the last leg of the Triple Crown has its downfalls however the 155th running won’t lack excitement. Forte was the betting favorite before being scratched from the Derby and we’ll finally get a chance to see what he can do. National Treasure is the fourth favorite and one of four horses with odds of 6/1 or shorter. The top of the oddsboard is tight but, don’t count out any horse at the bottom of the chart since upsets happen regularly in Triple Crown races.

The 2023 Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday, June 10 from Belmont Park in Elmont, NY. Post time is 7:02 p.m. ET. The race will air live on NBC with betting options available at BookMaker.eu.

2023 Belmont Stakes Odds at BookMaker.eu

Forte +220

Angel of Empire +350

Tapit Trice +400

National Treasure +600

Arcangelo +850

Hit Show +1000

Raise Cain +1600

Red Route One +2000

Tapit Shoes +2500

Il Miracolo +5000

Contenders

Having beaten Kentucky Derby winner Mage in his last start, it’s too bad we didn’t get to see Forte run either of the first two Triple Crown races. His last jaunt around a horse race track was back in early April capturing the G1 Florida Derby. I guess we could say he’s well rested or possibly a little rusty after the lengthy delay. I don’t think the time off is going to affect him since he’s performed well in the past with time off between races. He won the G2 Fountain of Youth in March, four months after claiming the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. In all, Forte has won six of his seven starts including the last five and is easily the horse to beat.

A lot of so-called experts are high on Tapit Trice even though he’s the third favorite and finished a distant seventh at Churchill Downs. Many believe that horse racing result was an exception to the rule and history says they’re right. The colt won four consecutive races ahead of the Derby, including the G1 Blue Grass Stakes in April. Sired by Tapit, who produced four Belmont Stakes winners, and with well-respected handlers, Tapit Trice might just be a product of his own background, which could explain his price for this race.

Since 2000 only two horses hit the Preakness-Belmont combo with National Treasure looking to become the third. He led gate to wire at Pimlico and the same strategy will likely be used. However, this race is a little longer and the likelihood of running out of gas is a possibility. The Baffert-trained colt ran increased distances in each of his last three starts and was able to maintain good speed numbers along the way. That’s an encouraging sign if you want to throw down on him.

I guess we should mention the second favorite in our list of contenders. Angel of Empire had an impressive stretch run closing the gap to finish third. He’s one of four G1 winners in the field having claimed the Arkansas Derby by more than four lengths. Trainer Brad Cox passed on the Preakness looking at this race for Angel of Empire to get back on the track. Now that it’s here we’ll see if he can duplicate his second half stretch at Churchill Downs.

Belmont Stakes Pick

There are clear-cut favorites in the field and I’m anxious to see Forte run. He’s clearly the best in the field, but the best doesn’t always win. Angel of Empire had a tremendous close at the Derby making up ground to finish third. I like his style but I don’t think he has enough. I don’t see any of the longshots doing enough to win leaving the favorites to work it out, and that’s where Forte is.

Preakness Stakes Finish: 1) Forte 2) Angel of Empire 3) National Treasure

Check out the latest horse racing odds at BetRivers.