Two down, one more to go. The first two legs of the Triple Crown have already concluded, and now we are fast approaching the third and final leg, the 2023 Belmont Stakes. Like with the first two races, the Belmont Stakes is also a much-awaited horse racing event in the United States where bettors spend so much time figuring out who will win the race.
This way, they can place their bet on contenders, increasing their chance of profiting. One way of knowing this is to follow the experts and fans and see who they’re rooting for in this upcoming race.
So, without further ado, here are the top five possible contenders of the 2023 Belmont Stakes worth checking out.
Forte
The first contender you should consider betting on the upcoming 2023 Belmont Stakes is Forter. He currently has 3-1 Belmont Stakes odds making him the early favorite. Forte was also the early favorite in the 2023 Kentucky Derby but unfortunately scratched off the race due to a foot injury.
He also didn’t get to run the 2023 Preakness Stakes as the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission or KHRC declared him unfit to race on the Preakness Stakes after his morning run. So, the KHRC put Forte on the Vet’s list, requiring him to rest and recover properly.
The Belmont Stakes is his only chance to redeem himself to be the must-watch Triple Crown contender this year. And true enough, he is now the early favorite of the race even though his team hasn’t declared his participation in the upcoming race.
Tapit Trice
The second-best odds of the 2023 Belmont Stakes go to Tapit Trice. He is currently holding a 7-2 odds and is another contender predicted to win the race by experts. Even though Tapit Trice didn’t make it in the Kentucky Derby, he still acquired second of the lower odds in the Belmont Stakes.
The reason behind this is that experts still have high hopes for the thoroughbred, given his strong pedigree, and he is trained by Todd Pletcher, one of the top horse trainers in the industry today. Pletcher is also the trainer of the number one favorite, Forte.
That said, Tapit Trice and Forte come from one stable and are conditioned by one person. It’s not impossible that Tapit Trice could also win or place in the Belmont Stakes. So, you better
watch out for this one too.
Angel Of Empire
Another expert predicted the winner of the 2023 Belmont Stakes race is Angel of Empire. He is the third favorite to win the Belmont Stakes with 4-1 early odds. Angel of Empire finished the 2023 Kentucky Derby as a third placer. After being the third-place winner of the Run for the Roses, the co-owner of Angel of Empire, Doug Black, decided to sit out Preakness Stakes.
Sitting out of the Preakness Stakes gave Angel of Empire enough rest and training time that will help enhance his skills. That said, he can now possibly surpass his performance at the Kentucky Derby and be ready to dominate the Belmont Stakes.
Not to mention that Angel of Empire is trained by Brad Cox, another top trainer in the industry today who produces multiple winners in the Triple Crown and other horse racing events.
National Treasure
The fourth possible contender of the 2023 Belmont Stakes that you must watch out for is National Treasure, the winner of the 2023 Preakness Stakes. He holds an odds of 6-1 and is also one of the expert’s favorite horses to win the Belmont Stakes.
National Treasure wasn’t allowed to run the Kentucky Derby on Churchill Downs last May 7 as his trainer Bob Baffert was banned from participating in the said racecourse. The ban resulted from the failed drug test of one of Baffert’s horses, Medina Spirit.
Baffert initially planned to transfer National Treasure under his good friend Tim Yakteen’s management to allow the horse to race in the Kentucky Derby. But the plan didn’t push through, and instead, Baffert and his team waited for the Preakness Stakes to unleash the beast. And true enough, the beast dominated the race and won the 2023 Preakness Stakes.
Arabian Lion
Last is Arabian Lion, with an odds of 10-1. Arabian Lion is another of Bob Baffert’s horses, which might be why he is among the probable contenders that experts and fans are eyeing for the Belmont Stakes.
After his victory in the Sir Barton Stakes last May, many believe Arabian Lion has something that can make him the next Belmont Stakes winner. Although he didn’t place on the Preakness Stakes, he might change his fate on the Belmont Stakes and win or place in the race.
With his trainer’s guidance, it’s not impossible. Especially with the help of his jockey John Velazquez who is also one of the best trainers of his generation, Arabian Lion has a huge potential for the Belmont Stakes.
Final Thoughts
Don’t rush to place your bets for the 2023 Belmont Stakes, even if you have already watched how the contenders perform in their past races. Keep in mind that horse racing is not a guaranteed sport. Anything can happen, and before placing your bet, take time to get to know the contenders, especially the favored ones. As a result, you can increase your chance of choosing the contender to provide you with value for your money.
