The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes are just over, and now we wait for the Belmont Stakes to be in action for the next few weeks. The horses seem prepared for the event, having great morale with outstanding performances at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Here, you will get to know all about the Belmont Stakes competitors, odds, our picks, and the past winners.
- Date: Saturday, June 5th, 2023
- Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
- Venue: Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
- Distance: 1 1/2 miles
- Surface: Dirt
- Horses: 3-Year-Old Thoroughbreds
- 2023 Belmont Stakes Contenders
1. Essential Quality
- Trainer/Jockey: Brad Cox/ Luis Saez
- Last Race: Kentucky Derby- 4th Place Finish
- Odds: +300
2. Rombauer
- Trainer/Jockey: Michael W. McCarthy/Flavien Prat
- Last Race: Preakness-1st Place Finish
- Odds: +300
3. Midnight Bourbon
- Trainer/Jockey: Steve Asmussen/ Mike Smith
- Last Race: Preakness Stakes- 2nd Place Finish
- Odds: +600
4. Hot Rod Charlie
- Trainer/Jockeyr: Doug O’ Neill/Flavien Prat
- Last Race: Kentucky Derby- 3rd Place Finish
- Odds: +600
5. Known Agenda
- Trainer/Jockey: Todd Pletcher/Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Last Race: Kentucky Derby- 9th Place Finish
- Odds: +800
6. Rock Your World
- Trainer/Jockey: John Sadler/: Joel Rosario
- Last Race: Kentucky Derby- 17th Place FInish
- Odds: +800
7. Keepmeinmind
- Trainer/Jockey: Robertino Diodoro/David Cohen
- Last Race: Preakness Stakes- 4th Place Finish
- Odds: +1200
8. Promise Keeper
- Trainer/Jockey: Todd A. Pletcher/Luiz Saez
- Last Race: Peter Pan Stakes- 1st Place Finish
- Odds: +1400
9. Rebel’s Romance
- Trainer/Jockey: Charles Appleby/William Buick
- Last Race: UAE Derby- 1st Place Finish
- Odds: +1600
10. Weyburn
- Trainer/Jockey: James A. Jerknes/Trevor McCarthy
- Last Race: Wood Memorial- 4th Place Finish
- Odds: +2000
11. France Go De Ina
- Trainer/Jockey: Hideyuki Mori/Joel Rosario
- Last Race: Preakness Stakes- 7th Place Finish
- Odds: +3300
12. Brooklyn Strong
- Trainer/Jockey: Daniel Velazquez/Umberto Rispoli
- Last Race: Kentuck Derby- 15th Place Finish
- Odds: +5000
2023 Belmont Top 3 Picks
1. Essential Quality
Essential Quality was the crowd favorite in the Kentucky Derby, being undefeated in five career matches. But he finished in 4th place with quite an unexpected result. Despite the results in the leaderboard, the trainer Brad Cox still thought Essential Quality was the best horse in the Kentucky Derby.
It might just have been a bad day for the Thoroughbred but let’s wait until the Belmont. According to TVG looking at the odds for the Belmont race, he definitely might go in as the crowd favorite.
2. Rombauer
Preakness turned out great for Rombauer, with a 1st place finish. It might be expected for him to be the crowd favorite in the Belmont, which is not likely the case. Looking at the records, Rombauer has a significantly less chance to go in as the favorite. But with the top finish in the Preakness, let’s see how he performs in Belmont.
3. Midnight Bourbon
Looking back at the Preakness, Midnight Bourbon gave an outstanding performance with a second spot on the leaderboard. Seeing how he performed at the Preakness, the 6th place finish at the Kentucky Derby might be due to a bad day. Steve Asmussen put the thoroughbred right on track on Preakness. With still a lot of room to grow, we might get the unexpected at the Belmont Stakes from Midnight Bourbon.
Belmont Stakes Past 10 Winners
1. Tiz The Law- 2023
- Time: 1.46.53
- Trainer/Jockey: Barclay Tagg/Manny Franco
- Value: $550,000
2. Sir Wilson- 2019
- Time: 2.28.30
- Trainer/Jockey: Mark Casse/Joel Rosario
- Value: $800,000
3. Justify- 2018
- Time: 2.28.30
- Trainer/Jockey: Bob Baffert/Mike Smith
- Value: $800,000
4. Tapwrit- 2017
- Time: 2.30.02
- Trainer/Jockey: Todd A. Pletcher/Jose L. Ortiz
- Value: $800,000
5. Creator- 2016
- Time: 2.28.51
- Trainer/Jockey: Steve M. Asmussen/Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Value: $800,000
6. American Pharoah- 2015
- Time: 2.26.65
- Trainer/Jockey: Bob Baffert/Victor Espinoza
- Value: $800,000
7. Tonalist- 2014
- Time: 2.28.52
- Trainer/Jockey: Christophe Clement/Joel Rosario
- Value: $800,000
8. Palace Malice- 2013
- Time: 2.30.70
- Trainer/Jockey: Todd Pletcher/Mike Smith
- Value: $600,000
9. Union Rags- 2012
- Time: 2.30.42
- Trainer/Jockey: Michael Matz/John Velazquez
- Value: $600,000
10. Ruler On Ice- 2011
- Time: 2.30.88
- Trainer/Jockey: Kelly Breen/Jose Valdivia Jr.
- Value: $600,000
The Belmont Stakes 2023 is just a few weeks away, and the horses have been prepared and trained for the event. We are sure the horses will give their best, and some might even have a bad day.
Essential Quality might have had a bad day in the Derby. We can see him win this time, or Rombauer might repeat his victory from the Preakness in the Belmont. Whatever be the result, we just hope, may the best horse win.
Keyword: What You Never Knew About The 2023 Belmont Pick