Once again, the Belmont Stakes will not have its familiar distance of 1 ½ miles, with Belmont Park continuing its remodel. Instead, the distance will be 1 ¼ miles for eight horses in the field.
With Preakness winner Journalism in the field, horse players have a far more entertaining race with Kentucky Derby champion Sovereignty and highly regarded Baeza.
Though the Belmont Stakes has upset winners and surprises, since 2000, seven post-time favorites have won, placed six times, with four finishing third. Here is a breakdown of the race and how to look at each horse in the race before making any bets at the top-rated sportsbooks.Â
Belmont Stakes 2025
Saturday, June 07, 2025 – 07:04 PM EDT at Saratoga Race Track
1. Hill Road (10-1 Odds)
Trainer Chad Brown / Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
This is the Peter Pan Stakes winner, and two others since 2014 have claimed a Belmont crown. Hill Road is 2-0-2 (W-P-S) in five starts and has a top-notch trainer and jockey that will attract betting attention.
Speed ratings of 94-84-89 (last first) make HR a long shot at best.
Possible Bets:
- Bottom of trifecta and superfecta
- Possible longshot
2. Sovereignty (2-1 Odds)
Trainer Bill Mott / Jockey Junior Alvarado
The Kentucky Derby winner remains a known closer and proved it at Churchill Downs.
Sovereignty has entered the winner circle in three of the past four races and would benefit if two of the speed horses force a quicker pace. Sovereignty might be ready for another top race after a 104-speed rating and is now rested.
Possible Bets:
- Across the board
- Exacta, trifecta and superfecta
3. Rodriguez (6-1 Odds)
Trainer Bob Baffert / Jockey Mike Smith
A foot injury kept Rodriguez out of the Derby as a late scratch. The lack of training made the Preakness impossible.
The extra time off adds an element of doubt about Rodriguez, but trainer Bob Baffert has won this race three times, the past two with Triple Crown winners Justify and American Pharoah. Rodriguez won the Wood Memorial in early April with a 101-speed figure and is 2-2-1 in five starts.
Possible Bets:
- Longshot
- Place
- Show
- Exacta, trifecta and superfecta
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4. Uncaged (30-1 Odds)
Trainer Todd Pletcher / Jockey Luis Saez
Not much to like after sixth in Peter Pan.
5. Crudo (15-1 Odds)
Trainer Todd Pletcher / Jockey John Velazquez
Besides Rodriguez, the other early speedster in the race.
For Crudo, setting a faster pace is key to hopefully have weary opponents in the home stretch. This lightly raced colt has two wins in three shots; however, it will have to do much better than low 80’s speed numbers.
Possible Bets:
- Bottom of trifecta and superfecta
- Possible longshot
6. Baeza (4-1 Odds)
Trainer John Shirreffs / Jockey Flavien Prat
Because of low odds on the two favorites, Baeza will attract a great deal of win and exacta wagering. And why not, with the last two speed ratings of 102 in a third-place finish in Kentucky and a second-place 101 at Santa Anita, where Journalism won.
Baeza has improved each start, ready to take the Belmont?
Possible Bets:
- Across the board
- Exacta, trifecta and superfecta
7. Journalism (8-5 Odds)
Trainer Michael McCarthy / Jockey Umberto Rispoli
The slight favorite after winning the Preakness and a solid second for the Derby.
Journalism is a talented, quality horse with tactical speed, who showed toughness and heart in an amazing win at Baltimore. Off-speed numbers of 98-102-102, is the tank still full for a third difficult race in five weeks?
Workouts have been strong and it’s hard not to like a horse that’s won four in a row and five of seven (5-1-1).
Possible Bets:
- Across the board
- Exacta, trifecta and superfecta
8. Heart of Honor (30-1 Odds)
Trainer Jamie Osborne / Jockey Saffie Osborne
A good horse that was fifth at Preakness, coming over from Japan. A 2-4-0 mark in seven starts, just overmatched at this level.
Ways to Bet
Tough choice for win bet, with any of the three favorites possible. Would recommend to box exacta and trifecta, and hope you don’t get burned.
- 1) Baeza 2) Sovereignty 3) Journalism
- Long Shot – Rodriguez
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
