The Belmont is made for late closers and that makes Honor Marie live at 12-1. Similar to the Kentucky Derby, Honor Marie has started in the back of the pack in other races too only to surge down the stretch to finish in the money.
I love betting late speed in the Belmont and two horses who really fit that profile are Honor Marie and Mystik Dan. The eighth-place finish in the Derby is more impressive than it looks on paper. If Honor Marie gets a better ride on Saturday, I believe the horse has the recipe to finish in the money and potentially outrun the entire field.
PLACE: No. 9 Sierra Leone (9-5)
If Sierra Leone was a couple of inched longer, the horse would be entering the Belmont unbeaten. Both of Sierra Leone’s career losses came by a nose.