Dual Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law is the 6-5 favourite in the 2020 Belmont Stakes, and deservedly so. The New York-bred star, who was a big winner over this course last year as a juvenile, should be used on top in most bets, and could even be singled in multi-race wagers. Choosing who to fill in beneath him is a matter of selecting which horses bring the most value.
Tap It to Win is coming off two straight victories this year, has a win over the track by five lengths and is well-positioned on the rail. Max Player has already won over the 1 1/8-mile distance here in New York and has had plenty of time to recoup with a phenomenal bullet workout on June 3. Dr Post was a stakes winner in April for Todd Pletcher and appears to be improving all the time.
- $20 Win, #8 Tiz the Law
- $5 Exacta, #8 Tiz the Law with #1 Tap It to Win and #9 Dr Post
- $1 Superfecta Box, #1 Tap It to Win, #3 Max Player, #8 Tiz the Law, #9 Dr Post
In the chance that something goes awry with Tiz the Law and you want to be covered with some possible huge payouts, bettors can try the following:
- $10 Win, #1 Tap It to Win and #3 Max Player
- $2 Exacta, #1 Tap It to Win, #2 Sole Volante, and #9 Dr Post over #8 Tiz the Law
Belmont Stakes Day Bets
As race day draws closer, handicappers will be keeping an eye on updated Belmont odds on the contenders and will be considering multiple betting options such as Win, Place, and Show as well as exotics such as exactas, trifectas, superfectas, and multi-race wagers.
The first Pick 4 will be on Races 2 – 5, starting with the Woody Stephen Stakes (G1). Here is a possible ticket for the first Pick 4, with a base wager of 50 cents.
- Race 2 – 1, 3
- Race 3 – 1, 5, 6, 7
- Race 4 – 1, 5, 6
- Race 5 – 2, 8
Ticket Price: $24
The second Pick 4 is on Races 7 – 10, including the Belmont Stakes.
- Race 7 – 3, 4, 10
- Race 8 – 1, 7
- Race 9 – 2, 4
- Race 10 - 8
Ticket Price: $6
The Pick 3 starts in Race 1 and rolls through every race until Race 9. As such, you can bet on races 1 – 3, then 2 – 4, 3 – 5, through 9 – 11.
The Pick 3 from Races 9 through 11 could look as such:
- Race 9 – 1, 2, 4, 7
- Race 10 – 1, 2, 8
- Race 11 – 1, 9, 11
The other major race on the card is the $300,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) for sophomore fillies. #1 Gamine is unproven in stakes company but is a $1.8 million purchase and unbeaten in two starts. She drew the rail, while #8 Perfect Alibi on the outside is making her 2020 debut after being a Grade 1 winner in New York last year. She has not run since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita in November. Bob Baffert trains Gamine, and Mark Casse trains Perfect Alibi.
How to Bet the Belmont Stakes
Betting on the Belmont Stakes usually comes down to selecting a talented three-year-old who can both go the full distance and isn’t too tired from the rigorous prep schedule in the spring. The Belmont is notorious for recent upsets, with double-digit payout winners regularly outlasting the favourites down the stretch.
It is a myth that closers perform better in the long straightaway at Belmont; in reality, speed is often king as controlling the pace over the extra-long racetrack configuration results in plenty of winners. A late-running closer often struggles in the lane compared to a horse who has been either leading or is sitting just behind the pace to pounce.
It is wise to evaluate how the track is playing, given that on some major race days the track and be harder and faster. Weather plays a role in picking a Belmont winner as well since the track can play either fast or slow depending on the amount of rain.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
All-time Belmont Stakes Winners
When it comes to the subject of the best horses ever to win the Belmont Stakes, 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat is always the first name that comes up. Not only did he set a record in winning the race by an incredible 31 lengths, but he also set the race record time at 2:24. Given that the second-fastest time in the 45 years since then is a full two seconds slower, it's a record that may never be broken.
More recently, American Pharoah in 2015 scored an emotional win when he took the Belmont after sweeping the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, becoming the first horse in 37 years to claim the US Triple Crown. Just three years later, Justify replicated his stablemate's feat, completing the Triple in 2018.
Have a look at all of the Belmont Stakes Champions:
Year |
Belmont Stakes Winning Horse |
2019 |
Sir Winston |
2018 |
Justify (Triple Crown Winner) |
2017 |
Tapwrit |
2016 |
Creator |
2015 |
American Pharaoh (Triple Crown Winner) |
2014 |
Tonalist |
2013 |
Palace Malice |
2012 |
Union Rags |
2011 |
Ruler on Ice |
2010 |
Drosselmeyer |
2009 |
Summer Bird |
2008 |
Da'Tara |
2007 |
Rags to Riches (Filly) |
2006 |
Jazil |
2005 |
Afleet Alex |
2004 |
Birdstone |
2003 |
Empire Maker |
2002 |
Sarava |
2001 |
Point Given |
2000 |
Commendable |
1999 |
Lemon Drop Kid |
1998 |
Victory Gallop (Canadian) |
1997 |
Touch Gold |
1996 |
Editor's Note |
1995 |
Thunder Gulch |
1994 |
Tabasco Cat |
1993 |
Colonial Affair |
1992 |
A.P. Indy |
1991 |
Hansel |
1990 |
Go And Go |
1989 |
Easy Goer |
1988 |
Risen Star |
1987 |
Bet Twice |
1986 |
Danzig Connection |
1985 |
Creme Fraiche |
1984 |
Swale |
1983 |
Caveat |
1982 |
Conquistador Cielo |
1981 |
Summing |
1980 |
Temperence Hill |
1979 |
Coastal |
1978 |
Affirmed (Triple Crown Winner) |
1977 |
Seattle Slew (Triple Crown Winner) |
1976 |
Bold Forbes |
1975 |
Avatar |
1974 |
Little Current |
1973 |
Secretariat (Triple Crown Winner) |
1972 |
Riva Ridge |
1971 |
Pass Catcher |
1970 |
High Echelon |
1969 |
Arts and Letters |
1968 |
Stage Door Johnny |
1967 |
Damascus |
1966 |
Amberoid |
1965 |
Hail To All |
1964 |
Quadrangle |
1963 |
Chateaugay |
1962 |
Jaipur |
1961 |
Sherluck |
1960 |
Celtic Ash |
1959 |
Sword Dancer |
1958 |
Cavan |
1957 |
Gallant Man |
1956 |
Needles |
1955 |
Nashua |
1954 |
High Gun |
1953 |
Native Dancer |
1952 |
One Count |
1951 |
Counterpoint |
1950 |
Middleground |
1949 |
Capot |
1948 |
Citation (Triple Crown Winner) |
1947 |
Phalanx |
1946 |
Assault (Triple Crown Winner) |
1945 |
Pavot |
1944 |
Bounding Home |
1943 |
Count Fleet (Triple Crown Winner) |
1942 |
Shut Out |
1941 |
Whirlaway (Triple Crown Winner) |
1940 |
Bimelech |
1939 |
Johnstown |
1938 |
Pasteurized |
1937 |
War Admiral (Triple Crown Winner) |
1936 |
Granville |
1935 |
Omaha (Triple Crown Winner) |
1934 |
Peace Chance |
1933 |
Hurryoff |
1932 |
Faireno |
1931 |
Twenty Grand |
1930 |
Gallant Fox (Triple Crown Winner) |
1929 |
Blue Larkspur |
1928 |
Vito |
1927 |
Chance Shot |
1926 |
Crusader |
1925 |
American Flag |
1924 |
Mad Play |
1923 |
Zev |
1922 |
Pillory |
1921 |
Grey Lag |
1920 |
Man o' War |
1919 |
Sir Barton (Triple Crown Winner) |
1918 |
Johren |
1917 |
Hourless |
1916 |
Friar Rock |
1915 |
The Finn |
1914 |
Luke McLuke |
1913 |
Prince Eugene |
1912 |
No Race - Hart–Agnew Law |
1911 |
No Race - Hart–Agnew Law |
1910 |
Sweep |
1909 |
Joe Madden |
1908 |
Colin |
1907 |
Peter Pan |
1906 |
Burgomaster |
1905 |
Tanya (Filly) |
1904 |
Delhi |
1903 |
Africander |
1902 |
Masterman |
1901 |
Commando |
1900 |
Ildrim |
1899 |
Jean Bereaud |
1898 |
Bowling Brook |
1897 |
Scottish Chieftain |
1896 |
Hastings |
1895 |
Belmar |
1894 |
Henry of Navarre |
1893 |
Comanche |
1892 |
Patron |
1891 |
Foxford |
1890 |
Burlington |
1889 |
Eric |
1888 |
Sir Dixon |
1887 |
Hanover |
1886 |
Inspector B |
1885 |
Tyrant |
1884 |
Panique |
1883 |
George Kinney |
1882 |
Forester |
1881 |
Saunterer |
1880 |
Grenada |
1879 |
Spendthrift |
1878 |
Duke of Magenta |
1877 |
Cloverbrook |
1876 |
Algerine |
1875 |
Calvin |
1874 |
Saxon |
1873 |
Springbok |
1872 |
Joe Daniels |
1871 |
Harry Bassett |
1870 |
Kingfisher |
1869 |
Fenian |
1868 |
General Duke |
1867 |
Ruthless (Filly) |