If you are a fan of the Belmont Stakes, get ready for a different experience this year. There have been significant changes that will affect the event. The Belmont Stakes, usually held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, will take place at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, about three hours north of the usual venue. This shift is due to the $455 million renovation happening at Belmont Park.
Another notable change is the race distance. Instead of the traditional 1 1/2 miles, this year’s Belmont Stakes will be contested over 1 1/4 miles, the same as the Kentucky Derby. This alteration could have a significant impact on how the horses perform, introducing a new dynamic to the race.
The Belmont Stakes is part of the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, featuring 23 stakes races with total prizes exceeding $10 million.
Moreover, the purse for this year’s Belmont Stakes has been raised to $2 million from $1.5 million in 2023. Here is a list of the 10 horses competing, along with their trainers, jockeys, and morning line odds:
- Seize the Grey – Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas, Jockey: Jaime Torres, Odds: 8-1. Winner of the 2024 Preakness Stakes, Seize the Grey starts from a historically favorable position.
- Resilience – Trainer: Bill Mott, Jockey: Junior Alvarado, Odds: 10-1. Known for endurance and consistent performance, Resilience is a strong contender.
- Mystik Dan – Trainer: Kenny McPeek, Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr., Odds: 5-1. The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness Stakes runner-up is a top favorite.
- The Wine Steward – Trainer: Mike Maker, Jockey: Manny Franco, Odds: 15-1. This gritty New York-bred colt usually races at shorter distances, making this a challenging transition.
- Antiquarian – Trainer: Todd Pletcher, Jockey: John Velazquez, Odds: 12-1. Following a victory in the Peter Pan Stakes, Antiquarian is on an upward trend.
- Dornoch – Trainer: Danny Gargan, Jockey: Luis Saez, Odds: 15-1. Despite recent setbacks, Dornoch’s early career achievements make him one to keep an eye on.
- Protective – Trainer: Todd Pletcher, Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione, Odds: 20-1. A less favored contender with the potential for an upset under favorable conditions.
- Honor Marie – Trainer: Whit Beckman, Jockey: Florent Geroux, Odds: 12-1. After a challenging run in the Kentucky Derby, this late-emerging contender is expected to bounce back strongly.
- Sierra Leone – Trainer: Chad Brown, Jockey: Flavien Prat, Odds: 9-5. The favorite in the morning line-up, Sierra Leone narrowly missed winning the Kentucky Derby and is anticipated to deliver a strong performance.
- Mindframe – Trainer: Todd Pletcher, Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr., Odds: 7-2. This promising colt has shown recent impressive form and could make an impact in his stakes debut.
The race will start at 6:41 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 8, and will be televised on FOX TV with a live stream on the FOX Sports app.
All odds are sourced from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Game odds are subject to change as they update periodically.
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