2008 Belmont Stakes Picks

The 2008 Belmont Stakes is now less than a week away, which means that history could also be less than a week away. In the thirtieth year since our last Triple Crown winner, Big Brown will be racing for horse racing's greatest accomplishment. Jimmy Boyd has nailed three straight Triple Crown races dating back to last year's Belmont Stakes when he hit the Trifecta. He has cashed in with Big Brown in both Triple Crown races this season. Will he take the favorite for a third straight race or does he have a worthy challenger pegged? Find out below as Jimmy reveals his 2008 Belmont Stakes picks.

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Win: Bet Big Brown at 1-3 odds at BodogLife.com Racebook

Big Brown was not showing good value in the Preakness Stakes, but I believed that he was the best horse and that paid off for us. I think the field in the Belmont Stakes will be a little tougher, but I also think that Big Brown only has one serious challenger - Casino Drive. I'm sure you've heard talk of Big Brown's hoof injuries, but they are yet to slow him down and I don't anticipate it happening now, especially since his camp shows no concern. There have been 10 horses with a chance to win the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes since Affirmed last did it in 1978, but I believe that Big Brown is a better horse than any of those in comparison to the field, and that's why he gets it done.

Place: Casino Drive 7-2 odds at BodogLife.com Racebook

Casino Drive certainly has the pedigree in his favor to win this race as the half brother to the 2006 and 2007 Belmont Stakes winners. In fact, he came over after being trained in Japan with the sole purpose of winning the Belmont Stakes. We know that inexperience has not stopped Big Brown, but I believe it could be a problem for Casino Drive who is yet to face a horse in is career like Big Brown. Casino Drive only has two races under his belt also so he hasn't faced a lot of situations which could occur during the race. With all that said, Casino Drive is still the second best horse in this field.

Show: Behindatthebar 25-1 odds at BodogLife.com Racebook

I like Behindatthebar showing good value as our show horse. I believe this horse would have run second at the Derby had it not been held out in favor of the Preakness. An injury, then, forced him to scratch the Preakness, but he is at one hundred percent for this race with some of the freshest legs in the field. This is a horse of super trainer Todd Pletcher who was able to win his first Triple Crown race last year at the Belmont Stakes with Rags to Riches. With as fresh as this horse is, his jockey won't have to hold much of anything back, even at the longer distance.

It's a fairly top heavy field so if you're looking for a fourth horse for your Superfecta, link up Denis of Cork who ran third at the Kentucky Derby.

Do your 2008 Belmont Stakes betting at BodogLife.com and cash in big with Jimmy Boyd's horse racing picks. Jimmy has your back with all of his sports picks throughout the year so make sure you visit us often for winners on the biggest sporting events of the year.

June 4th, 2008