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1. Belmont Stakes Times History
2. Belmont Stakes Free Picks
3. Belmont Stakes Records Times
4. Best Belmont Stakes Bet
5. Belmont Stakes Track Record

Only four horses ran against Secretariat for the June 9 Belmont Stakes, including Sham and three other horses thought to have little chance by the bettors: Twice A Prince, My Gallant, and Private Smiles. With so few horses in the race, and Secretariat expected to win, no 'show' bets were taken. Belmont Stakes mobile apps: A mobile racing app lets you bet on the Belmont Stakes anytime you want in a legal betting state. The best of the bunch is TVG, a simple-to-use platform that is a.

The 152nd Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday in New York. Normally, the final race of the Triple Crown, it will be the first this year and will take place without spectators.

ESPN's Chris Fallica gives us his best bets for the Triple Crown race, along with his thoughts on the day's earlier races.

Guide to the field

Horses listed in order of post position.

1. Tap It to Win (jockey: John Velazquez/trainer: Mark Casse) 6-1 ML odds

Mark Casse has a chance to be the first trainer since D. Wayne Lukas in the mid-1990s to win the Belmont in consecutive years. Tap It to Win ran a huge race vs. allowance company at Belmont Park two weeks ago and had some buzz as a horse that could wire the field. But I'm against him here. The rail draw means he will certainly face pressure from the outside, certainly from Fore Left, possibly from Modernist and potentially from one more horse I'll discuss later. He could hang on for a piece of the trifecta, but I'm standing against him for the top spot.

2. Sole Volante (Luca Panici/Patrick Biancone) 9-2

It's hard to knock this one, as he has run six times in his career, winning four and never finishing out of the money. He has no gate speed, so he will be coming from off the pace. Some might be concerned that he ran just 10 days ago, but remember in a normal Triple Crown year, it's 14 days between the Derby and Preakness, so the turnaround doesn't really concern me. Who he has beaten does. Independence Hall turned out to be a dud. King Guillermo beat him at a huge number in the Tampa Derby, and Jesus' Team isn't a highly regarded horse -- whom he just beat in the allowance. I will use him in a defensive fashion, as I'd hate to lose a ticket because I didn't have him on it, but I think you can find better options for second and on top.

3. Max Player (Joel Rosario/Linda Rice) 15-1

Joel Rosario having the mount instantly grabs my attention. Rosario won the race last year on Sir Winston and has five exacta finishes at 9-1 or better in Triple Crown races. He rides long shots with success. Trainer Linda Rice has not had a great start to the Belmont meet, but Max Player was really impressive from off the pace in the 1⅛-mile Withers at Aqueduct, and it would be foolish to completely dismiss him as the pace could fall apart and he could crack the exacta at a very nice price.

4. Modernist (Junior Alvarado/Bill Mott) 15-1

Bill Mott usually finds his best Triple Crown finishes with long shots. Last year he won the Kentucky Derby via DQ at 65-1 with Country House. He won the Belmont in 2010 with Drosselmeyer at double-digit odds. Vision and Verse finished second to Lemon Drop Kid in the Belmont at nearly 30-1. So don't let the price deter you. This one won the Risen Star in a front-running, grinding fashion that does very well at Belmont. He lost all chance in the Louisiana Derby at the post draw when he drew post position 14. Despite that draw and the fact he was four- or five-wide the entire way around, he grinded out a third-place finish behind Wells Bayou and NY Traffic, who went around the track in merry-go-round fashion. A better draw and a home track edge makes this one very dangerous at a price.

5. Farmington Road (Javier Castellano/Todd Pletcher) 15-1

I thought this one-run closer could be a big factor in the Arkansas Derby, but that didn't happen. He'll be shorter than he probably should be because of the presence of Javier Castellano and Todd Pletcher. I don't think the race really sets up for him at all, and he is best ticketed for the lower rungs of the trifecta and superfecta.

6. Fore Left (Jose Ortiz/Doug O'Neill) 30-1

He was rerouted from the 7-furlong Woody Stephens to the 1⅛ Belmont, and I really don't know why. He's nothing more than a pace presence here and doesn't need to be on your tickets.

7. Jungle Runner (Reylu Gutierrez/Steve Asmussen) 50-1

Why is this horse in the race? That's been a very common question thrown my way this week. I have a couple of theories. First, a fifth-place finish here would likely carry a better payday than winning an allowance race. The other theory involves Jungle Runner being an uncoupled entry-mate for Steve Asmussen's other horse, Pneumatic. When Creator won the Belmont in 2016, Asmussen entered a 55-1 shot Gettysburg to serve as part of the pace presence to soften up Destin, who was a threat to wire the field. He did his part, as Creator surged past Destin late to win the race. Now, Jungle Runner hasn't shown much speed in his career, so my theory could be completely off base, but I think he's here to serve as a rabbit/helper to the outside horse Pneumatic. He's certainly not in the race to get Calumet tickets for the race, that's for sure. But he doesn't need to be on your tickets.

8. Tiz the Law (Manny Franco/Barclay Tagg) 6-5

By post time, Tiz the Law should be the first odds-on favorite in a Belmont without a Triple Crown on the line since Bold Forbes won in 1976. He has done nothing wrong, winning at Belmont, Saratoga and Gulfstream fast tracks, with a third-place finish at Churchill Downs on a sloppy track the only time he has been beaten. He can be close to the lead or a little further back. His versatility makes him so good. Unless something really bad and unforeseen happens, I can't see him getting a great spot and trip here and not being a huge factor in the stretch. Trainer Barclay Tagg hasn't had a starter in a Triple Crown race since the 2008 Belmont when Tale of Ekati finished sixth. Jockey Manny Franco has ridden in two Triple Crown races. Franco finished 18th in last year's Derby on Spinoff and 17th in the 2015 Derby with Tencendour. The two were both 52-1 shots. So this is the first time Franco is really on a contender in a Triple Crown race. He's a very deserving favorite and will not only be tough to beat, but will also be very tough to keep out of the exacta.

9. Dr Post (Irad Ortiz Jr./Todd Pletcher) 5-1

I'm torn on this one. He has run two excellent races this year, but I'm not sure he has beaten much. He had every reason not to win in the Unbridled, but he responded with maturity when put in a bad position. But is he one of those Todd Pletcher horses that seems to just run well at Gulfstream and disappoint elsewhere? Irad Ortiz Jr. is seemingly winning everything these days at Belmont, so his price will probably be that of the second choice in the race, so I'd love to beat him for second, but I'll use him there too on some tickets because I don't want to potentially lose out of stubbornness. Since Tapwrit won the 2017 Belmont Stakes, Pletcher hasn't had a Belmont starter hit the board. It's the first time since 2004-05 that Pletcher has gone consecutive years without hitting the board in the Belmont. He's never had a stretch where he had a starter in the race three straight years and at least one didn't hit the board. So file that historical nugget away.

10. Pneumatic (Ricardo Santana Jr./Steve Asmussen) 8-1

I touched on him in the Jungle Runner write-up, but I think he, along with Modernist, are the most likely to upset Tiz the Law. Pneumatic broke maiden at first asking, then successfully stretched out to a mile in his second start and then was stuck on the rail in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs cutting out all of the fractions -- a position that doesn't allow him to do his best running. Despite that, he gutted out a third-place finish, losing by less than two lengths to the undefeated Maxfield, who would be right there with Tiz the Law in this race. Pneumatic should absolutely move forward off that race and with the outside draw should fall back into a much more desired stalking or closing trip. And if my hunch about Jungle Runner is correct, then move him up even more. You'll want him all over your ticket.

Ways to play the race

Here are some suggested plays for the Belmont Stakes. I tried to offer something for every type of player. Obviously, adjust as your budget allows.

Thoughts on Saturday's other stakes races

Race 2: Woody Stephens

It's not often you see a Grade I race with only five runners, but here we are. Every runner in the field is guaranteed a piece of the purse money as a result. No. 1 No Parole won at Oaklawn from the rail and will have to do the same Saturday at a tough distance, but I'm inclined to stand against. No. 2 Meru looked like he had No. 4 Echo Town dead to rights at Churchill Downs, but he never went by. The pace should help him again, but trainer struggles in Graded Stakes races is a little concerning. No. 3 Mischievous Alex is 2-for-2 at seven furlongs and will likely get first shot at the pacesetter and then hold off jump on the closers. I'd happily take 5-2 on him.

Race 5: Pennine Ridge

Christophe Clement runners are running very well at Belmont, and No. 1 Decorated Invader looks like a short-priced winner at 6-5 on the ML. Between No. 3 Proven Strategies, No. 5 Vanzzy and No. 6 Maroon Maniac, there appears to be enough pace to set up her closing kick.

Race 6: Wonder Again

No. 2 Sweet Melania will have the pace edge and is a nice exacta key, but I'll lean toward No. 5 Selflessly. She won the Miss Grillo here last year and should get a similar trip to that Saturday. She had no shot in the Breeders' Cup with that post draw and should be set to win off the layoff. She is surprisingly the third choice on the ML at 5-2.

Race 8: Acorn

I'll lean toward No. 4 Casual at 3-1 here, given she draws outside the even-money favorite No. 1 Gamine, who looked beaten at Oaklawn in her last race. She again will have to deal with facing all the pressure. Casual should get the trip and a nice pace setup. No. 6 Pleasant Orb faces winners for the second time and could be a nice price play at close to 20-1 or so to boost the exacta and trifecta.

Race 9: Jaipur

No. 6 Hidden Scroll is in the field, and that's good for all of us that want a better price on a horse that can actually win. He's 8-1 on the ML but will undoubtedly get play. No. 5 Stubbins ran well in defeat in the Daytona at Santa Anita and should be ready to roll here in his second start off the layoff; 3-1 seems like a fair price on him. No. 3 Texas Wedge also comes out of the Daytona and certainly can win for Peter Miller, who has shipped and won at Belmont in the past; he's 4-1 on the ML. No. 4 Pure Sensation is the 5-2 ML favorite and always gives a respectable effort, was third in this race a couple of years ago and I doubt he's better now, so I would lean against him on top.

The Belmont Stakes is usually the third and final leg of the American Triple Crown, taking place the second Saturday of June at Belmont Park. However, the 2020 Belmont Stakes is rescheduled for Sat., June 20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be run as the first leg of the Triple Crown. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) also reduced the distance of the race from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/8 miles.

The reason for the adjusted distance, according to a NYRA press release, was “to properly account for the schedule adjustments to the Triple Crown series and overall calendar for 3-year-olds in training.” Because of the configuration of the Belmont track, the race will be run with only one turn.

Below you’ll find betting odds and post positions for the 2020 Belmont Stakes, along with strategy and predictions from our team of experts. Read on before placing your bets!

Belmont race schedule and where to watch

Here is more information and tips on betting the Belmont Stakes, and how you can watch and wager on this year’s event.

• Date: Saturday, June 20, 2020
• Time: 5:42 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Tablet, Online, Mobile: NBC Sports App and streamed live on NBCsports.com/live and fuboTV
• Track & Location: Belmont Park in Elmont, NY
• Distance: 1 1/8 miles (reduced from 1 1/2 miles for the first time since 1926)
• Surface: Dirt
• Horses: 3-Year-Old Thoroughbreds
• Track Record: Secretariat (2:24.00 in 1973)
• Largest Margin of Victory: Secretariat, 31 lengths in 1973

Belmont Stakes odds 2020

ALSO READ: Changes At The Belmont Stakes: How A Shorter Track Length Impacts Racing Odds

Best Belmont Stakes betting sites 2020

Horse racing wagers and bets

In addition to the traditional “straight” wagers (Win, Place, Show), fans can also attempt to cash big in the various “exotic” pools. Exacta (first two), Trifecta (first three) and Superfecta (first four) wagering are all offered, and cashing a ticket in any of these pools can produce a bigger payday.

• Win:Bet on the horse you think you will win the Belmont Stakes.
• Place:Get paid the place price if your horse finishes first or second.
• Show: A show bet pays the least, but you win and get paid the show price if your horse finishes first, second or third.
• Exacta: Predict the first two horses in the correct order.
• Trifecta: Predict the first three horses in the correct order.
• Superfecta: Predict the first four horses in the correct order.
• Super High Five: Predict the first five horses in the correct order.

The Belmont Stakes betting odds are finally determined by the pari-mutuel system at the track which means your potential payout depends on how much money is in the pot overall, divided by how many bets are placed. The odds will fluctuate in the build-up to the race and never more so than in the final few moments before post time.

ALSO READ: Belmont Stakes best bets for Saturday

Belmont Stakes field analysis

Here is the field and capsules for the horses in the 2020 Belmont Stakes:

1. Tap It to Win (6/1): Three wins in six starts with an off-the-board finish in his only graded stakes race last fall in the Breeder’s Futurity (G1) at 3-1 odds. Returned from sesamoid surgery and enters on the heels of a front-running facile Allowance race win June 4 over the Belmont surface and nearly set the track record. Last year’s winning Belmont Stakes trainer Mark Casse brings his rapidly-improving Tapit colt right back with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez a two-time Belmont winner riding in his 24th Belmont Stakes.
2. Sole Volante (9/2): Sole Volante has hit the board in all six starts, and his four wins include the Sam F. Davis (G3). He was also runner-up in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). French trainer Patrick Biancone prepped Sole Volante with an Allowance race win June 4 at Belmont, and he’s a closer that will try to catch Tap It to Win and Tiz the Law. Journeyman jockey Luca Panici makes his Belmont Stakes debut and rides at Belmont Park for just the second time in his career.
3. Max Player (15/1): Trainer Linda Rice shoots to become the first woman to train a Belmont Stakes winner, and says Max Player has “dramatically improved” in his training since winning the Withers (G3) Feb. 1 at Aqueduct. Max Player will try to rally from off the pace, and he’s is in good hands with strong stretch rider and two-time Belmont Stakes-winning jockey Joel Rosario in the irons. Rosario road Tonalist (9/1) and last year Sir Winston (10/1) to Belmont Stakes glory and he’s hit the board in five of eight Belmont Stakes starts. Tough challenge though with Max Player moving up in class and off a layoff.
4. Modernist (15/1): Jockey Junior Alvarado will be pressing the pace and stalking the leaders with Modernist, who has won twice at this 1 1/8 mile distance including the second division of the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is just 1-for-8 in the Belmont Stakes but that winner was longshot Drosselmeyer (13/1) in 2010. A similar result would be very surprising as Modernist does not possess the speed ratings of the stronger horses in the field.
5. Farmington Road (15/1): One of two horses in the field for EPO trainer Todd Pletcher, a 3-time Belmont Stakes winner. Pletcher is always a threat going a route of ground on his home track, and rider Javier Castellano will try to rally him from the back of the pack. Castellano is a prominent rider on the NY racing circuit and four-time Eclipse Award winner as the nations top jockey. Does he have the horse to win his first Belmont Stakes after three close runner-up finishes? Farmington Road is working well, and finished a distant fourth in his two graded stakes starts including the tougher second division of the Arkansas Derby (G1).
6. Fore Left (30/1): A late addition to the field this week, trainer Doug O’Neill decided to enter this four-time winner and got top NY jockey and 2017 Belmont Stakes-winning rider Jose Ortiz to hop aboard. Fore Left will set or press the pace, but he’s never run this distance. Fore Left won his last race in February in Dubai going one mile.
7. Jungle Runner (50/1): Trainer Steve Asmussen has the biggest longshot in the race. This son of top sire Candy Ride has not come close to hitting the board in his last three starts which includes 8th in the first division of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1). He’s a closer, but won’t be making up ground on better colts. The youngest rider in the field Reylu Gutierrez (23) gets his shot in a Classic race.
8. Tiz the Law (6/5): The prohibitive favorite with four wins in five starts including the Florida Derby (G1) in March by more than four lengths and a three-length win in the Holy Bull (G3). His only defeat came over a sloppy track so watch the weather at Belmont Saturday, but only a stray of showers or thunderstorms possible days before the race. Jockey Manny Franco is just 25 years old but has more than 9,000 races under his saddle, and he’s been among the leading riders at Belmont in recent years. Franco rides in his first Belmont Stakes for New York-based trainer Barclay Tagg. Tiz the Law will be be stalking the leaders and heavily bet as a popular choice to win for his Saratoga Springs owner and investor group.
9. Dr. Post (5/1): This is the stronger colt of trainer Todd Pletcher’s pair in this race, but Dr. Post will try to win the Grade 1 Belmont in his first graded stakes race. He’s 2-for-3 in his career wining from off the pace in a minor stakes race at Gulfstream in April with his career-best speed figure. Dr. Post is a well-bred improving and versatile runner and he gets the guidance of New York-based rider and 2016 Belmont Stakes-winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr, who leads all jockey’s in victories this year.
10. Pneumatic (8/1): This Steve Asmussen-trained colt is also 2-for-3 and finished third in his stakes debut in the Matt Winn (G3) a month ago at Churchill Downs. Pneumatic had the lead at the three-quarter pole and will try to press the pace and hold up going a little longer in this race with underrated Ricardo Santana, Jr. riding again in his second Belmont Stakes start. Pmeumatic is a late-bloomer with speed, worked very well June 8 in prep but still must show improvement to pull a big upset.

Belmont Stakes changes in 2020

The Belmont Stakes is known as the “Test of the Champion” because the 3-year-old thoroughbreds run 1 1/2 miles for the first time. However, that will change in 2020 with the race being contested at 1 1/8 miles for the first time since 1926.

The Belmont track oval is 1 1/2 miles and has two wide, sweeping turns for the traditional Belmont Stakes. Now the race is one turn with a long run down the backstretch before turning for home. The pace will be faster than a traditional Belmont Stakes, and the shorter distance changes the complexion of the race and the Triple Crown.

That’s especially true with Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert losing his elite 3-year-olds Nadal (retired) and Charlatan (ankle) just three weeks before the big race.

Three time Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Todd Pletcher added, “this is a very different dynamic when you talk about a one-turn mile and an eighth.”

The field was expected to grow with the distance cut back and more trainers considering the race. Now with two of the favorites out and undefeated Maxfield out of the Triple Crown series with an ankle injury, the field won’t be as large. Still, at least nine colts are expected to run in the Belmont Stakes and the opportunity of a potential longshot score is greater with three top contenders out of the Triple Crown race.

Belmont Stakes Times History

The shakeup of the Triple Crown trail has not only affected the dates and shuffling of the races with the Belmont Stakes running before the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but also the overall racing schedule, training patters and Derby preps schedule. And perhaps the biggest change is there will be no fans in the stands for the Belmont Stakes as the COVID-19 heath crisis continues to impact society and sports.

Belmont Stakes Free Picks

New York-based trainers and those most familiar with Belmont Park and working their horses in preparation have an edge. Those include Chad Brown, Rudy Rodriguez and Barclay Tagg, who trains Belmont Stakes entry and favorite Tiz the Law. Also an added edge for Todd Pletcher, who has two horses ready to run in the Belmont Stakes – Farmington Road and Dr. Post – but has redirected Gouverneur Morris to the July 11 Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland – A Road to the Kentucky Derby series race.

Along with Pletcher’s three Belmont wins, his horses have finished in the money 11 times.

Picking a Belmont Stakes winner

Belmont Stakes Records Times

In the last 13 non-Triple-Crown editions of the Belmont Stakes, the favorite has won just twice. Afleet Alex (2005) won by 7 lengths and Point Given (2001) by 12 lengths. Six of the 12 winners were double-digit odds, so long shots have cashed in and provided some strong payouts in the win and exotic pools.

Best Belmont Stakes Bet

Belmont Stakes history and results

Belmont Stakes Track Record