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As the third and final leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing, the Belmont Stakes is perhaps the most anticipated of the three races especially if there’s a contender to win them all. Justify may make history this year by becoming the 13th thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown.
It wasn’t until the Kentucky Derby three years ago, that many people believed the Triple Crown to be of a bygone era, a feat that was practically impossible to accomplish. Until American Pharoah came along.
But maybe it isn’t a coincidence that Justify is on the brink of glory, because along with American Pharoah, he happens to be a Bob Baffert trained horse.
Let’s take a look at how the 2018 Belmont Stakes odds look for the contenders.
Belmont Stakes Odds.
1) Justify, 1-2
2) Free Drop Billy, 20-1
3) Bravazo, 5-1
4) Hofburg, 3-1
5) Restoring Hope, 30-1
6) Gronkowski, 14-1
7) Tenfold, 15-2
8) Vino Rosso, 15-2
9) Noble Indy, 25/1
10) Blended Citizen, 14-1
The Contenders
Justify
There’s a lot more riding on Justify apart from winning the Triple Crown. Millions upon millions more. But in turning a blind eye to what only matters to this horse’s owners, there lies a history-making opportunity in very close sight.
There’s a feeling Justify was bred for this exact moment. Even after breaking the mold as a 3-year-old that didn’t race at all as a 2-year-old, Justify portrays himself as deserving of all the accolades.
He’s ridden by jockey Mike Smith, who knows Belmont’s track well and has the Hall of Fame experience to back him. If there’s anyone who can race Justify into glory it is Smith, who has been daft at pacing the horse to find the break.
However, Justify may even open up the field early and pull a Secretariat and end up winning by 31 lengths.
Hofburg
There’s was plenty of sharp-betting action on Hofburg’s bandwagon at the Derby, but that prospect went up in smoke when he was bumped at the start and cajoled to the back of the pack, running into more traffic trouble before making a rally to a seventh-place finish.
He has just one win in four starts, but he’s a quick colt whose sire, Tapit, has produced three of the last four Belmont Stakes winners.
He’s ridden by Iran Ortiz Jr., who is great and can exploit the fact the horse has had some rest and should be fresh and ready to go.
Bravazo
There are some people who believe had the Preakness been 50 yards longer, Bravazo would have likely have won the race.
It’s partly why trainer D. Wayne Lukas decided to bring Bravazo back for the Belmont, where his closing kick could serve well in the long stretch run.
The horse seems to have improved and also ran a good sixth in the Derby despite a rough trip, so he could bring it in this race. However, this last race might have been his last but he still has a shot at doing better than in the Derby.
Tenfold
Though it doesn’t guarantee anything, the Belmont is one of the few races where pedigree still matters. This horse’s bloodlines gleam he’ll get the distance with former Horse of the Year Curlin on the top side and Tapit in his mother’s family.
Even without much experience, having just four starts, he ran an impressive, closing third in the Preakness and should continue his success off of that race. He was right there with Bravazo at the end of the Preakness, and he should be better.
Pick: The biggest question might be if Justify can adapt to the 11/2-mile distance and whether Smith can pace him early in the race, particularly from the No. 1 post position. Justify has yet to take a backward step in his career and he’ll win the Triple Crown.
