The Belmont Stakes is usually the final leg of the Triple Crown. However, this year’s “Run for the Carnations” will be the first leg and will run June 20 in Elmont, NY.
Expect a 10-horse field at Belmont Park’s dirt track for this year’s unique race. Normally a 12-furlong race (1.5 miles), the 2020 stakes will run at nine furlongs (1 1/8 miles). In the weeks leading up to it, injuries have forced some of the early favorites out of the race. That leaves this year’s race as a chance for some fireworks.
How to watch the Belmont Stakes
Spectators cannot attend the Stakes because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but fans can still catch all the action.
2020 Belmont Stakes
- Date: Saturday, June 20
- Time: 5:42 pm EST
- Location: Belmont Park in Elmont, NY
- Distance: Nine furlongs (1 1/8 miles)
- Weather forecast: Partly cloudy, high of 80, and a 20% chance of rain.
- TV: NBC, starting at 3 pm EST
- Mobile viewing: TVG, NBC Sports app, NBCSports.com
Who’s favored to win the Belmont Stakes?
Following the announcement of post positions on Wednesday, odds were updated for Saturday’s race.
TVG, which allows wagering via its horse betting app, has Tiz the Law as a 6-5 favorite out of Post 8. Sole Volante has 9-5 odds out of Post 2, while Dr Post is at 5-1 out of Post 9.
In the weeks leading up to the race, some of the expected favorites were ruled out for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.
Nadal (retired) and Charlatan (ankle) are a pair of horses, trained by Bob Baffert, who will no longer run. Maxfield (ankle), an undefeated 3-year-old, is also out.
Baffert, a trainer of two Triple Crown winners, will not have a horse in Saturday’s race.
Trainers seek first Belmont Stakes victory
Tiz the Law is the favorite for good reason. The 3-year-old colt has won both races in 2020, the Holy Bull Stakes and the Florida Derby. Tiz the Law also picked up a win at Belmont in October, coming in first in the Champagne. That was a one-mile race.
Some concerns for the favorite are that trainer Barclay Tagg and jockey Manny Franco have yet to collect a Belmont Stakes victory in their respective careers.
Sole Volante is a 3-year-old gelding that has been busy in 2020, competing in four races. That includes a victory at Gulfstream Park on June 10, just 10 days before the Belmont Stakes.
Trainer Patrick Biancone and jockey Luca Panici will also be seeking their first Belmont Stakes victory through Sole Volante.
Who are the dark horses at Belmont?
Tap It to Win has 6-1 odds out of Post 1, but the 3-year-old colt could be a horse to keep an eye on.
Trainer Mark Casse won this race a year ago with Sir Winston, and jockey John Velazquez is a two-time winner of the Belmont Stakes. His last win was with Union Rags in 2012.
It’s been a perfect 2-0 2020 for Tap It to Win, including a victory on June 4 at Belmont Park.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will be seeking a fourth Belmont Stakes victory on Saturday. He has two horses in the race, including Dr Post. He also has Farmington Road running out of Post 5 with 15-1 odds.
Dr Post is a 3-year-old colt who has won both of its races this year but finished fourth in its only race at Belmont last July. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. won the 2016 Belmont Stakes with Creator.
Farmington Road is a 3-year-old colt who has one win in six career races. It is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby in May.
Jockey Javier Castellano has not won the Belmont Stakes in his lengthy career. While not a great option to win, Farmington Road is worth consideration for exotic bets.
