Belmont Stakes betting preview: Public loves Tiz the Law
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Through a stagnant summer of betting, NASCAR, table tennis, and horse racing have shouldered the load in entertaining the market. There could be some serious fireworks this weekend.
Traditionally the final leg in the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes will make an unconventional first appearance as the opening act on Saturday. Scheduling conflicts prompted both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes - the first and second legs of the Triple Crown, respectively - to resume in the fall.
Here's the oddsboard, the favorite, and the trends to know for the weekend headliner.
Odds to win the 2020 Belmont Stakes
| Post | Horse | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Tiz the Law | -125 |
| 1 | Tap it to Win | +600 |
| 9 | Dr. Post | +700 |
| 2 | Sole Volante | +800 |
| 10 | Pneumatic | +1000 |
| 3 | Max Player | +1800 |
| 4 | Modernist | +1800 |
| 5 | Farmington Road | +2500 |
| 6 | Fore Left | +3300 |
| 7 | Jungle Runner | +5000 |
The favorite
It's Tiz the Law, by a mile. The 3-year-old colt is the odds-on favorite at -125, and deservedly so.
He's been cruising over the last five races, winning four of them. Most recently, Tiz the Law captured a resounding victory in the Florida Derby by 4 1/4 lengths on March 28.
The favorite in the field drew the No. 8 post, much to the delight of trainer Barclay Tagg.
"It will keep him out of trouble," Tagg told Bloodhorse's Bob Ehalt regarding the colt's post position. "So far, so good. We're pleased with the way he's doing. We're ready for the race. They just have to run it."
Trends
- Since 1997, no horse has won from the No. 10 post. That's bad news for Pneumatic (+1000). Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has two horses in the race - Pneumatic and Jungle Runner - and is aiming for his second win at the Belmont Stakes.
- Since betting lines became available, favorites in the Belmont Stakes have cashed at a 42% clip (63 of 151 races).
- John R. Velazquez is the most experienced jockey in the field, and he's tasked with guiding Tap it to Win (+600) to victory. Velazquez has posted seven top-three finishes in 23 career races in the event, including a pair of outright wins.
- The best post position historically has been No. 1. It's produced 23 winners since 1905, the most of any spot.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.