2022 Belmont Stakes: Early Odds and Betting Tips

We’re getting closer to the historic 154th running of the 2022 Belmont Stakes. Despite having no Triple Crown-winning horse this year, fans and bettors alike are still looking forward to the final leg of America’s Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. 

The 2022 Belmont Stakes is on Saturday, June 11, at 3:00 ET. That’s only a matter of days away! So start being on your toes and do your homework for the third jewel now. Here are the early Belmont Stakes odds and betting tips to keep in mind. 

Early Odds

Official runners won’t be made public until June 7. That’s why solid Belmont Stakes Betting odds aren’t likely to be released after the Preakness Stakes. However, the latest odds for belmont stakes are up for grabs at almost any online sportsbooks within the ante-post markets. 

Here are the 2022 Belmont Stakes Early Odds:
Mo Donegal 5-2

We The People 7-2

Rich Strike 5-1

Creative Minister 6-1

Nest 8-1

Ethereal Road 10-1

Skippylongstocking 13-1

Barber Road 14-1

Golden Glider 20-1

Kuchar 33-1

As shown, Belmont Stakes’ top favorites are Mo Donegal, We the People, and Rich Strike. Mo Donegal, in particular, is somehow a surprise entry, at least as far as this year’s Belmont favorites go. His odds jumped to +350 these days, despite finishing fifth in the Derby and skipping the Preakness. 

We the People, which followed Mo Donegal, recently shot up in the rankings due to his recent win in the 1⅛-mile Peter Pan at Belmont Park last May 13. Another winner on the list is Rich Strike. He took a breather after his 80-1 long-shot win in the Derby last May 7, so he will likely be well-rested to run for the Belmont. 

Although not in the recent early odds, 2022 Kentucky Derby’s runner-up Epicenter is worth shooting for. He’s an in-form contender who runs well on the big stage. His odds of +600 are quite low, but it’s probably among the valuable bets you could make on the upcoming Belmont.

Belmont Stakes Betting Tips

While the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes can’t be discounted, Belmont Stakes needs a different skill set. You need to know a lot to truly gauge how a contender handles the track and its potential to win. 

Don’t rely too much on favorites if you want to win your bet. Only a few of them can win a race in a normal year. For example, Epicenter was the 6-5 favorite in Preakness Stakes’ odds last May 21 but came second only. Likewise, in 2022 Kentucky Derby odds, Zandon closed as the chalk but only finished as a runner-up. 

Apart from a horse’s record, trainer and jockey, check out the contenders’ running styles and pedigree. A contender with the right, if not perfect, the combination of these two qualities can be lethal. So take a look at these attributes before deciding which horse you’ll bet on. 

Running Styles

The third leg is the longest and the most grueling race in the Triple Crown. However, don’t fall into the old traps. For example, only closers and speed or tactical speed horses win this race, or those front-runners will get tired eventually in the race. They’re all just myths.

Belmont Stakes has always favored speed. If we look back to the previous Belmont Stakes races, most of the top finishers were first or second after the first half-mile into the race or were relatively close to the early leads. 

Apart from front runners and closers, there were a lot of stalkers, mid-pack runners, pace pressers, and pacesetters that presided over the Belmont Stakes too. In other words, any running style works in the 1½-mile final leg. 

Instead, keep an eye on these four:

1. Contenders with controlled speed.
2. Contenders with the ability to run in a boring style for most of the race.
3. Contenders that know how to settle into a good rhythm.
4. Contenders that can ration their energy properly.

Pedigree

Run a background check on each contender’s breeding. The thing is, a fast horse will breed a fast horse. A horse’s strength, soundness, and even willingness to win can be heritable. More importantly, every horse contributes 50% of its genes to their offspring. 

In other words, there’s a chance that a thoroughbred sire coupled with a thoroughbred dam may produce a foal that can inherit their racing characteristics or even better. But, of course, this alone can’t produce a champion racehorse. Conditions are equally important, if not more so.

Final Thoughts

Justify was the last horse crowned as the Triple Crown-winning horse, and it’s been four years since then. Unfortunately, we won’t have it this year after 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike’s absence from the Preakness Stakes. But, on a positive note, the 2022 Belmont Stakes might show some hints of who will be the winner next season!