The Belmont Stakes is coming up on Saturday, June 5, and eight top three-year-olds will compete. The race has returned to its traditional place on the calendar and returned to its traditional mile and a half distance on the Belmont dirt. This is the place for expert analysis of the Belmont Stakes, as well as expert insight on the best Canadian sportsbooks for betting the 2021 Belmont Stakes.
The Belmont Stakes is coming up on Saturday, June 5! After running as the first leg of the Triple Crown last year due to pandemic-related shuffling of the racing schedule, the Triple Crown is back to its traditional structure this year. The Belmont is the last of the three races, and it is back at its 1 1/2-mile distance, making it truly the Test of the Champion.
Though there is no Triple Crown at stake this year, the Belmont still drew an excellent field of eight to compete for a $1.5 million purse. Champion Essential Quality will line up alongside Preakness winner Rombauer, who aims to become the first horse since Afleet Alex in 2005 to win the last two legs of the Triple Crown without taking the Derby.
Betting the Belmont Stakes Online
Unlike last year, when it was run spectator-free, this year’s race will allow 11,000 fans to enter Belmont Park for the 2021 Belmont Stakes. If you are not lucky enough to have a ticket or be near New York, though, you can still have a world-class betting experience by betting the Belmont Stakes online at one of the best Canadian sportsbooks!
Let our sportsbook reviews help you find the one that is best for you. All of these top sportsbooks offer trusted account funding and cash-out, as well as excellent incentives for Belmont Stakes bettors. With your account set up, you will be ready to bet on the 2021 Belmont Stakes with confidence!
Belmont Stakes Horses
These are the official entrants for the 2021 Belmont Stakes, along with post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning line odds:
- Bourbonic – Todd Pletcher/Kendrick Carmouche (15/1)
- Essential Quality – Brad Cox/Luis Saez (2/1)
- Rombauer – Michael McCarthy/John Velazquez (3/1)
- Hot Rod Charlie – Doug O’Neill/Flavien Prat (7/2)
- France Go de Ina – Hideyuki Mori/Ricardo Santana, Jr. (30/1)
- Known Agenda – Todd Pletcher/Irad Ortiz, Jr. (6/1)
- Rock Your World – John Sadler/Joel Rosario (9/2)
- Overtook – Todd Pletcher/Manuel Franco (20/1)
These are their morning line odds, but there is no guarantee you will actually get these odds. They are just the track’s best guess as to how the tote board will firm up. In order to get the best odds, your best move is to sign up for a trusted online sportsbook. That way, you can lock in the best odds on your Belmont pick, just like you can in a Vegas casino or sportsbook.
These are the current odds on top Belmont contenders at the best Canadian sportsbooks:
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Quality | 3.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Rombauer | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Hot Rod Charlie | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.50 |
| Rock Your World | 5.50 | 5.50 | 5.50 |
| Known Agenda | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
Belmont Park Pointers
Belmont Park is unlike many American racetracks. The dirt track is a mile and a half around — as large and sweeping as the E. P. Taylor turf course at Woodbine, and nowhere else in North America! Thus, it helps to have a rider who is accustomed to riding such a large course and saving enough horse for the late stages of the race.
Most of the riders in this year’s Belmont are experienced over the course. The current leading rider, Irad Ortiz, Jr., takes the call on Known Agenda. The two riders who are not regular Belmont Park denizens include Ricardo Santana, Jr., who rides France Go de Ina, and Flavien Prat, who rides Hot Rod Charlie.
Some handicappers fall into the trap of picking a closer in the Belmont just because they will have more distance over which to catch the pacesetter. However, most years show that a horse who has tactical speed does better in the Belmont. A closer who can’t stay a mile and a half is going to tire, too. And, Belmont can play kindly to forward horses on big days.
Belmont Handicapping
The most likely Belmont Stakes favourite is Essential Quality. Though he lost for the first time in the Kentucky Derby, it was still a good race. He was further off the pace than he otherwise would have been after having a tough start, and he rallied to be beaten only a length in a race where speed horses held very well.
The best bet to upset the chalk is Known Agenda. He had a tough beginning to the Derby after breaking from the rail and just had too much to do late. This time he drew better and should get a spot in the range of the pace. He has run well at Belmont before, and his trainer Todd Pletcher knows how to get a horse ready for the Belmont. He gets the leading rider, too, and has a strong pedigree for the mile and a half.
The one they’ll have to catch down the lane is Rock Your World. Though a rough beginning ruined his chances in the Kentucky Derby, he has sharp early speed. He drew much better this time, outside of the rest of the speed. He should be fast enough to clear and may have enough stamina on the dam’s side of his pedigree to have a shot at evading his pursuers.
Rombauer and Hot Rod Charlie will both take a lot of betting action, though questions surround both. Preakness winner Rombauer is in strong form for the shrewd Michael McCarthy, but his pedigree raises questions about how much he wants to go a mile and a half. Hot Rod Charlie also comes from more of a miler family, and his trainer Doug O’Neill has a poor Belmont record.
Belmont Longshot
Among the longshots, give a serious look to Overtook. He is trained by Todd Pletcher, who has not only won three Belmonts but has a good track record not only with short-priced horses but with longshots who have distance pedigree, horses just like Overtook. And, Overtook can improve off a third-place finish in the Peter Pan, where he did show he could handle the Belmont footing.
Expert Belmont Picks
After taking a detailed look at the field, here are the best bets for the 2021 Belmont Stakes:
- $20 win – Known Agenda
- $2 exacta key – Known Agenda with Essential Quality and Rock Your World
- $1 trifecta key – Known Agenda with Essential Quality, Rock Your World, and Overtook
- $0.20 superfecta key – Known Agenda with Essential Quality, Rock Your World, Overtook, Rombauer
2021 Belmont Undercard Picks
Belmont Stakes Day is one of the classiest days of racing in the United States. Not only does it feature a Triple Crown showcase, but there are top-level races for many of the divisions for younger and older horses, as well. It means excellent betting opportunities all day long, so keep these horses in your win and multi-race wagers throughout the card:
- Race 3 – $400,000 Woody Stephens S. (G1) – #3 Jackie’s Warrior
- Race 4 – $400,000 Brooklyn S. (G2) – #7 Ajaaweed
- Race 5 – $500,000 Acorn S. (G1) – #2 Obligatory
- Race 6 – $400,000 Jaipur S. (G1) – #11 Got Stormy, #6 Bound for Nowhere
- Race 7 – $500,000 Ogden Phipps S. (G1) – #3 Letruska
- Race 8 – $500,000 Just a Game S. (G1) – #11 Blowout
- Race 9 – $1 million Metropolitan H. (G1) – #6 Knicks Go
- Race 10 – $750,000 Manhattan S. – #9 Gufo, #2 Bye Bye Melvin
