Mystik Dan (right) edges Sierra Leone (left) by a nose to win the Kentucky Derby. Those two meet … [+]
It’s nearing post time for the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes. But before Saturday’s headliner and $2 million race at 6:41 p.m. ET, there are eight other graded stakes to watch and wager on including six Grade 1 races. This year’s Belmont Stakes and 4-day racing festival June 6-9 is taking place at Saratoga Race Course while Belmont Park is being renovated.
Betting on the Belmont Stakes Day races will be big again this year following last year’s non-Triple Crown NYRA record-breaking all-sources handle of $118,283,455. The all-sources handle for the 2023 Belmont Stakes race was $56.5 million – nearly half of the total all-sources handle on 13 total races.
Fans can tune in June 8th on FOX Sports and FS1 starting with early pre-race coverage at 10:30 a.m. on FS1 and FOX carrying four Grade 1 races starting at 4 p.m. and concluding with the Belmont Stakes in Race 12.
You can check out FanDuel Racing and more coverage on FanDuelTV including best bets for the Belmont, along with dark horse picks and all the Belmont Stakes Day coverage and horse profiles and racing news.
Additional racing picks are provided in my coverage and Belmont Stakes betting guide. A special MyRacehorse feature on race horse ownership and crowdfunding opportunities that include Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey are available through MyRacehorse.
Belmont Stakes Betting Guide And Horse Profiles
Seize the Grey crossing the finish line in front at the 2023 Preakness Stakes with a celebrating … [+]
2024 Belmont Stakes Day Race and Picks
I also turned to the experts at Guaranteed Tip Sheet for picks on all the graded stakes races at Belmont Park on Sat., June 8. The GTS Belmont Stakes wagering guide is available for additional race details, insight and picks.
All horses listed below are the top win contenders in order with opening parimutuel odds subject to change and adjusting as more bets come in on the races.
Belmont Stakes (Race 12) – 1 1/4 miles
- #10 Mindframe (7/2)
- #9 Sierra Leone (9/5)
- #1 Seize the Grey (8/1)
- Value Plays and Longshots: #3 Mystik Dan (5/1), #4 The Wine Steward (15/1), #6 Dornoch (15/1)
How to bet on the Belmont Stakes
Mindframe makes his stakes debut and the late-arrving 3-year-old has two easy wins in two starts with front-running blazing speed. If he runs back to his debut, he wins, as hard is that is to believe. Mindframe has the shortest odds of the Todd Pletcher-trained trio in the race with Pletcher shooting for his 5th Belmont Stake victory.
Sierra Leone finished second by a nose twice including in the Kentucky Derby. He’s the best horse in the field with three other wins and he’ll be closing from way back with new jockey Flavien Prat taking over for trainer Chad Brown.
Seize the Grey upped his speed figure in the last three races. He really popped a big race last out to win the Preakness Stakes. Regression is a real concern, but a repeat can produce another top finish.
Manhattan Stakes (Race 11) – 1 3/16 miles on Turf
- #9 Measured Time (7/2)
- #7 Nations Pride (9/2) – 6 wins in 8 starts
- #5 Program Trading (5/2)
- Value Plays and Longshots: #6 Al Riffa (6/1), #1 I’m Very Busy (9/2), #4 Strong Quality (15/1)
Measured Time has 5 wins in 7 starts and makes his U.S. debut. Nations Program has 9 wins in 16 starts and finished 3rd in his only start this year in a Grade 2. Program Trading has 5 wins in 6 starts including three Grade 1’s.
Metropolitan Handicap (Race 10) – Met Mile
- #6 White Abarrio (6/5)
- #2 National Treasure (8/5)
- #3 Post Time (7/2)
- Value Plays and Longshots: #5 Hoist the Gold (15/1)
Jaipur Stakes (Race 9) – 5 1/2 furlongs on Turf
- #6 Star of Mystery (6/1)
- #8 Cogburn (2/1)
- #2 Arzak (9/2)
- Value Plays and Longshots: #12 Mischief Magic (8/1), #11 Filo Di Arianna (15/1)
Woody Stephens (Race 8) – 7 furlongs
- #7 Prince of Monaco (7/2)
- #8 Vlahos (6/1)
- #4 Valentine Candy (6/1)
- Value Plays and Longshots: #10 Nutella Fella (15/1), Book’em Danno (9/2), #5 Frost Free (15/1)
Ogden Phipps (Race 7) – 1 1/8 miles for fillies & mares
- #5 Idiomatic (3/5)
- #1 Randomized (6/1)
- #3 Pretty Mischievious (6/1)
- Value Plays and Longshots: #2 Tizzy in the Sky (12/1), #5 Raging Sea (9/2), #4 Soul of an Angel (8/1)
Six Grade 1 races plus three additional graded stakes on the big Belmont Stakes Day card is likely to produce another record-handle and more on-site wagering for the first-ever Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
You can bet on it.