2025 Belmont Stakes

The 2025 Belmont Stakes is set for Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Due to renovations at Belmont Park, the race will be run at a distance of 1 1/4 miles instead of the traditional 1 1/2 miles. Post time is 7:04 p.m. ET.

Here’s a breakdown of the field, morning-line odds, and some expert insights:

The Field and Morning-Line Odds for 2025 Belmont Stakes :

The final field of eight horses and their post positions, jockeys, trainers, and morning-line odds are as follows:

1. Hill Road (10-1) – Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.; Trainer: Chad Brown
2. Sovereignty (2-1) – Jockey: Junior Alvarado; Trainer: Bill Mott
3. Rodriguez (6-1) – Jockey: Mike Smith; Trainer: Bob Baffert
4. Uncaged (30-1) – Jockey: Luis Saez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher
5. Crudo (15-1) – Jockey: John Velazquez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher
6. Baeza (4-1) – Jockey: Flavien Prat; Trainer: John Shirreffs
7. Journalism (8-5) – Jockey: Umberto Rispoli; Trainer: Michael McCarthy
8. Heart of Honor (GB) (30-1) – Jockey: Saffie Osborne; Trainer: Jamie Osborne

Key Contenders and Expert Insights 2025 Belmont Stakes :

The 2025 Belmont Stakes features a highly anticipated rematch between Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby winner, and Journalism, the Preakness Stakes victor.

• Journalism (Post 7, 8-5 ML): The morning-line favorite, Journalism, comes off a spectacular Preakness win where he showed tremendous grit. Experts note that his outside post position might allow him a clear path to stalk or press the pace. However, some question if running all three Triple Crown races in a short span will sap his energy.
• Sovereignty (Post 2, 2-1 ML): The Kentucky Derby winner skipped the Preakness, meaning he comes into the Belmont Stakes well-rested. His inside post position (Post 2) is often seen as advantageous, offering a ground-saving trip, which could benefit his closing style.
• Baeza (Post 6, 4-1 ML): This horse finished a strong third in the Kentucky Derby and is well-rested. Some experts, like Drew Dinsick, believe Baeza could be an upset pick, drawing parallels to past longshot winners.
• Rodriguez (Post 3, 6-1 ML): Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, Rodriguez won the Wood Memorial and was scratched from the Derby due to a foot injury. He’s expected to be a factor in the early pace and could be a live longshot.
• Hill Road (Post 1, 10-1 ML): Coming off a win in the Peter Pan Stakes, Hill Road is a deep closer with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. The rail post could be ideal for his running style on Saratoga’s tighter track, and his connections (Chad Brown and Irad Ortiz Jr. have dominated Saratoga) make him an interesting longshot.

Surprising Picks from Horse Racing Experts 2025 Belmont Stakes :

While Journalism and Sovereignty are the clear favorites, some experts are looking for value elsewhere:

• Jody Demling (a veteran handicapper) has indicated he’s looking beyond the two favorites for his exotic bets (exactas, trifectas, superfectas), favoring a longshot with improving form. He specifically mentioned Rodriguez (6-1) as a top longshot to target, citing his connections and potential to go wire-to-wire.
• John Mucciolo (TwinSpires) believes Hill Road (10-1) is the best longshot, highlighting his strong late kick, advantageous rail draw at the 1 1/4 mile distance, and the formidable trainer/jockey combination of Chad Brown and Irad Ortiz Jr., who have a strong record at Saratoga.
• Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica (FOX Sports) suggests Rodriguez (6-1) and Crudo (15-1) could be battling for the lead early and might impact the race similar to how a pace-setter can influence the outcome for closers. He also notes that Baeza (4-1) has taken early money, making him a potential surprise favorite.

How Post Positions are Determined in 2025 Belmont Stakes :

Post positions for the Belmont Stakes are determined through a random drawing, usually held a few days before the race. Numbered pills or marbles representing each horse are placed in a blind draw machine, and officials or connections draw them one by one to assign the starting gate. This ensures fairness in the process.

Betting Strategy for 2025 Belmont Stakes  :

Given the highly anticipated rematch and the shorter distance at Saratoga, the pace of the race will be crucial. Horses with tactical speed and those who can save ground along the rail may have an advantage. For exotic bets, consider boxing favorites with a few live longshots to increase your chances of a larger payout.

Remember that odds can fluctuate leading up to race time, so it’s always best to check the latest odds from official sources before placing your bets.

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