Experts’ Belmont Stakes picks
The Biz- June 8, 2024
Saturday’s 156th renewal of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes features the Kentucky Derby winner, the Preakness winner, the Derby’s beaten favorite, a lightly raced Maryland-bred, and more.
Can Mystik Dan or Seize the Grey double up with a second Triple Crown win? Can Sierra Leone run straight and make amends for his Derby defeat? Is Mindframe all that? Or can a longshot make some noise?
Who does have a shot? Well, that’s the question, isn’t it?
We asked our experts for their selections, and here is the consensus analysis:
| 9. Sierra Leone – Derby favorite missed by an eyelash after lugging in in the stretch and could get the right trip this time — if he can keep a straight path… |
| 2. Resilience – Ran a sneaky good race with a wide middle move in the Derby and has been training forwardly since |
| 3. Mystik Dan – The Derby winner ran another good one in the Preakness, though the race shape didn’t do him any favors; can contend here |
| 6. Dornoch – Lost all chance in the Derby when the winner broke better, grabbed the rail, and put this one behind the eight ball; needs to come out running to have a shot |
| 10. Mindframe – Lightly race Maryland-bred — just two starts to date — could be any kind after showing massive talent in his first two starts. But is he ready for this kind of company? |
| 1. Seize the Grey – The Preakness winner benefited from the no-show performance of Imagination to control the pace throughout but isn’t likely to get such a favorable scenario here |
| 7. Protective – Four-race maiden needs a big step forward |
| 5. Antiquarian – The Peter Pan winner has been moving forward |
| 8. Honor Marie – Late running sort needs a pace to run at and he needs more proven closers like Sierra Leone not to fire their best shots |
To see a horse-by-horse analysis and in-depth look at the Belmont Stakes field, please click here.
EXPERT PICKS
| Joseph Aiello | Ted Black | Derby Bill Watson | Eric Rubin | Nick Hahn | Gary Quill | Mackenzie Pfeiffer | |
| WIN | 9. Sierra Leone | 9. Sierra Leone | 9. Sierra Leone | 2. Resilience | 3. Mystik Dan | 9. Sierra Leone | 6. Dornoch |
| PLACE | 3. Mystik Dan | 10. Mindframe | 10. Mindframe | 7. Protective | 1. Seize the Grey | 2. Resilience | 9. Sierra Leone |
| SHOW | 1. Seize the Grey | 6. Dornoch | 1. Seize the Grey | 5. Antiquarian | 5. Antiquarian | 8. Honor Marie | 2. Resilience |
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OUR HANDICAPPERS ARE:
- Nick Hahn, author of the eponymous Nick’s Picks for Colonial Downs.
- Eric Rubin, host of Better Betting podcast
- Gary Quill, co-host of Better Betting and former The Racing Biz Maryland handicapper
- Derby Bill Watson, legendary former Colonial Downs on-air analylyst
- Mackenzie Pfeiffer, Maryland Jockey Club on-air analyst
- Joseph Aiello handicaps Saratoga for The Racing Biz.
- Ted Black is the Charles Town correspondent for The Racing Biz.
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