Belmont Stakes Long Shots

Possible Long Shots for 2017 Belmont Stakes

By Brent Sedo

When the final entries are announced on Wednesday for this Saturday's Belmont Stakes, there are a number of horses expected to be drawn into the field at double-digit odds. Even if they don't win, these are the horses that could break open a big payout in the exotic pools. Last year, three of the top four Belmont finishers were in double-digit odds, producing an exacta of $269.00, a trifecta of $2,751.00 and a superfecta of $27,935.00, all on a $2 bet. 

Here's a look at a few we think deserve a long look in 2017, with current odds in Bovada's racebook.

Belmont Long Shot Contenders

Tapwrit (10-1): He's a horse that kind of lopes along mid-pack and saves his best running for the last part of his races. In finishing second in the (G2) Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay earlier this year, he had a ground-saving trip but was blocked in the top of the stretch and had to shift outward twice in the lane, was able to re-rally and was closing in on the winner when he ran out of track.

He got slammed by Belmont contender Irish War Cry leaving the gate in the Kentucky Derby and had to start his race near the back of the pack, eventually working his way up to finish sixth. If the frontrunners falter late, he's a threat to get a major piece.

Patch (20-1): Like Tapwrit, he's trained by Todd Pletcher, who had the Kentucky Derby winner in Almost Dreaming. He looked well beaten at the top of the stretch in the (G2) Louisiana Derby, but found a hole through traffic and showed good late acceleration to get up for second.

He had to check hard just as he started his rally in the Kentucky Derby and lost his chance, similar to what happened last year to eventual Belmont winner, Creator. Both his sire and his grandsire on his dam's side were Belmont Stakes winners.

J Boys Echo (20-1): He had finished in the top four in his first four lifetime starts until the Kentucky Derby, including winning the (G3) Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct by more than three lengths over future Preakness Stakes winner Cloud Computing. While probably not a threat for the win, he has a similar mid-pack running style to Tapwrit, and could get into the mix once they get into the deep stretch.

Multiplier (25-1): He didn't race as a two-year-old, then ran third in his debut, second his next out, then scoring a pair of wins, the second of those coming in the (G3) Illinois Derby.

He ran evenly to finish sixth in the Preakness and will need to move forward off of that effort but past speed figures indicate he fits in this field. His pedigree would suggest he's more suited for sprinting, although the Illinois win came at 1 1/8 miles, making him an intriguing outsider.      

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : belmont betting odds , belmont long shots

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