2025 Belmont Stakes Preview and Betting Odds

The highly anticipated 157th edition of the Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2025, marking the grand finale of the prestigious U.S. Triple Crown of horse racing. For the second consecutive year, the race will not be held at its traditional home, Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, but instead at the iconic Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs due to ongoing renovations at the track.

The Belmont holds special significance as the most demanding of the Triple Crown races—open to three-year-olds, it’s a real test of stamina and strategy. The horse that crosses the finish line first won’t just win the race but will also etch its name in history as having conquered the “Test of the Champion.”

The 2024 edition saw a surprising victory by Dornoch, with the legendary duo of jockey Luis Saez and trainer Danny Gargan. That commanding performance at Saratoga set a precedent: favorites don’t always prevail, and Dornoch surged to the lead in the final stretch to take the win with authority.

2025 Belmont Stakes Preview and Betting Odds and Info

2025 Belmont Stakes Top Contenders

Among the favorites for this Saturday is Journalism, winner of the Preakness Stakes in May, second in the Kentucky Derby, and the only horse competing in all three legs of the Triple Crown. He has demonstrated the ability to rally and handle pressure, as evidenced by recent workouts, including a half-mile in 47.54 seconds at Saratoga. He’s trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli—both highly experienced professionals. There’s plenty of talent here, but his biggest challenge will be recovering after two intense races in a short period.

We must also mention Sovereignty,the 2025 Kentucky Derby champion. He skipped the Preakness to rest and prepare for this grand finale, and we’ll now see if that strategy pays off. While he’s known for a powerful finishing kick, the time off could also mean a lack of race rhythm.

Finally, we include Baeza in this group of contenders. His third-place finish in the Derby proved he has the consistency to compete at the highest level. Like Sovereignty, he rested in preparation for the Belmont. He performed well at Churchill Downs, and the combination of jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Michael McCarthy is a proven and successful duo.

2025 Belmont Stakes Outside Picks

A horse that could cause an upset is Rodriguez. Winner of the Wood Memorial, he missed the Derby due to an injury. He has since recovered, but the lack of recent competition could work against him. On the plus side, he has no pressure on his shoulders. His jockey, Mike Smith, won the Belmont Stakes in 2010, 2013, and 2018.

We also include Hill Road in this group. He recently won the Peter Pan Stakes (May 10), the traditional prep race for the Belmont, and has the tools to win. However, his lack of experience at longer distances and against such elite competition could be a disadvantage. His jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., is a two-time Belmont winner (2016 and 2022).

Finally, Crudo, winner of the Sir Barton Stakes, boasts a strong track record and impressive lineage—he’s the son of Justify, the 2018 Triple Crown champion. John R. Velázquez, Crudo’s jockey, is also no stranger to success at the Belmont, having won it in 2007 and 2012.

Formato da corrida e prêmio em dinheiro

The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Horse race, run over a distance of 1¼ miles—shorter than the traditional 1½ miles at Belmont Park—due to track conditions at Saratoga. Likewise, the prize purse has been increased from $1.5 million to $2 million.

2025 Belmont Stakes Podium Pick