Belmont Stakes 6/10/23 - Horse Racing Picks & Predictions
Last Updated: 06/06/2023 at 11:44 AM ET
The Triple Crown concludes on Saturday June 10 with the running of the 155th Belmont Stakes. The Belmont Stakes will be the most competitive of the Triple Crown events this year, as National Treasure, the winner of the Preakness, will face off against favorites in the Kentucky Derby, Angel of Empire and Forte. The favorite has won each of the last three Belmont Stakes. Others in the field include Tapit Trice, Arcangelo, Hit Show, Raise Cain, Red Route One, Tapit Shoes and Il Miracolo.
Not too often is the best race of the Triple Crown the last one, but this year’s Belmont Stakes has, who many horse racing pundits call the best three-year-old in Forte, the winner of last month’s Preakness Stakes, National Treasure and eight other thoroughbreds that have fresh legs. The Kentucky Derby raced under a cloud due to the deaths of horses and the Preakness had only one horse, Mage, that raced in the Kentucky Derby.
The top three favorites are Forte, who is currently +200, Angel of Empire at +350 and Tapit Trice at +375. Preakness winner National Treasure has the fourth best odds at +700. Forte, trained by Todd Fletcher, was a late scratch for the Kentucky Derby despite being the favorite. Forte’s last race was the Florida Derby in which the thoroughbred posted a fifth consecutive win and his career best speed figure at 102.
Angel of Empire is trained by Brad Cox, who was the trainer of the 2021 Belmont Stakes Winner. The thoroughbred has improved in each outing after posting a career best speed figure of 104 when placing third in last month's Kentucky Derby. Tapit Trice, who is also trained by Pletcher, finished 7th in the Kentucky Derby but in his start previous to the Derby, won the Blue Grass Stakes well ahead of Blazing Sevens, who finished second in the recent Preakness Stakes.
The winner of the Preakness has won just two of the previous 15 Belmont Stakes. The favorite has won each of the last three Belmont Stakes. Angel of Empire will enjoy the additional distance in the Belmont as it appeared he was gaining speed down the stretch last month at Churchill Downs but could not catch the leaders after running out of track. Angel of Empire will be making his debut at 1 ½ miles, but after winning the Arkansas Derby, the Risen Star Stakes and finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, will reach the winner’s circle on Saturday. Prediction: Angel of Empire.