2023 Belmont Stakes Best Longshot Bets, Picks & Predictions
After a Kentucky Derby that saw Mage win with 17-1 odds, the Preakness offered no such excitement when it came to longshots. Winner National Treasure went off at 5-2 and was followed by 9-2 Blazing Sevens and race favorite Mage at 7-5.
Four Belmont horses have morning line odds of 10-1 or worse. After Red Route One's showing at the Preakness, it's hard to imagine him finishing too well on Saturday, and Il Miracolo is totally outclassed in this race. That leaves just two horses. We talk about them both below, and we offer a longshot exotic that would result in a very nice payday.
2023 Belmont Stakes Sleeper Bets & Predictions
Here are the top longshot bets to consider for the 2023 Belmont Stakes.
Hit Show (10/1)
Hit Show finished fifth at the Kentucky Derby but ran very consistently from start to finish. Aside from second-place finisher Two Phil's, Hit Show went out the hardest of any of the top five horses and actually did a good job of holding on down the stretch.
The Belmont is a quarter-mile longer than the Derby, so there is always the chance that Hit Show collapses before he even hits the final straightaway. However, if this horse goes out a bit slower than he did at the Derby, then he could make some serious noise at the end of the race. Include this horse in exotics, and do not be too surprised if he wins.
Tapit Shoes (20/1)
Tapit Shoes has a lot of work to do to be a true contender in this race. But he did finish second behind Red Route One at the Bath House Row in April. We're not including Red Route One as a true longshot contender in this race, but he also just ran three weeks ago. It's been a while for Tapit Shoes. That could be good for the horse.
With none of these horses having experience running a 1 1/2 mile race, there is always the chance for something crazy to happen at the end. This horse had a Brisnet speed rating of 98 its last time out. Four Belmont horses had better numbers in their last race, but only two horses have been consistently better than that. Those two are Angel of Empire and Forte. If Tapit Shoes doesn't overdo it early, he could start picking off struggling horses down the home stretch and add to a nice payday for bettors.
TRIFECTA: (7) Hit Show / (8) Angel of Empire / (1) Tapit Shoes
If you want to box these three horses, go for it, because if these are the top three finishers in the race, the payday is going to be significant, even if Angel of Empire wins. The top four horses in this race are getting a lot of love and rightfully so. But Hit Show has all the elements to pull out a win.
Angel of Empire has shown the most strength late in a race of any of the favorites. That's why I have him finishing second. Tapit Shoes will come barrelling down the home stretch for a third-place finish just narrowly squeaking past Forte in the waning moments of the race. Sound like too much? That's why its called a longshot.
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