Odds to Win the 2011 Belmont Stakes
Here are the odds to win the 2011 Belmont Stakes for Saturday’s probables.
Animal Kingdom: +200 to win the Belmont Stakes – Animal Kingdom proved his Kentucky Derby win as a 20-to-1 long shot was no fluke by running second in the Preakness Stakes. The current favorite to win the third leg of horse racing’s triple crown has now finished second or better in all six of his races with three wins.
Nehro: +400 to win the Belmont Stakes – Nehro sat out the Preakness after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby. This means he should be fresh for the race he has the best chance to win in my opinion. Nehro also took second in the Arkansas and Louisiana Derby’s and appeared to have plenty left in the tank when crossing the finish line in all three races. The Belmont is a longer race than the Kentucky Derby and this horse has shown he can get the distance. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering his sire, Mineshaft, also produced 2007 Belmont winner Rags to Riches.
Shackleford: +450 to win the Belmont Stakes – The Preakness winner will have his work cut out for himself Saturday. This front-runner was able to hold off the stalkers in the shortest of the triple crown races but fell to fourth in the Kentucky Derby down the home stretch. This raises questions as to whether he can handle the 1.5-mile distance in the Belmont. Shackleford tried to stalk in February’s Fountain of Youth and ran fifth. It may be too late in the game to try that again, which means we’re about to see what he is made of.
Mucho Macho Man: +600 to win the Belmont Stakes – After finishing third or better in eight of nine career races, the third-place Kentucky Derby finisher ran a disappointing sixth at Pimlico in the Preakness. Still, I believe he’ll have an excellent opportunity to get back in the top three in the longer Belmont. I like the way he handled the Kentucky Derby distance and should do well in this 12 furlong race as well.
Santiva: +1500 to win the Belmont Stakes – “He got a little bit tired, perhaps, in the Derby. He’s a horse that’s done well since then and we’re happy enough with the way he ran on Derby Day,” said trainer Eddie Kenneally. The son of Giants’ Causeway – one of the best sires in the world – is bred for this distance and will be fresher than many of the other horses. He was caught up in the middle of the pack for much of the Kentucky Derby but showed his endurance and speed down the stretch to finish 6th. At these odds, Santiva is showing some solid value.
Brilliant Speed: +1500 to win the Belmont Stakes – Prior to running seventh in the Kentucky Derby, this horse had shown brilliant speed with six consecutive finishes of third or better. Known as a turf horse, Brilliant Speed could struggle if the conditions are less than ideal. The current weather forecast projects a 50 percent chance of showers for Saturday.
Other hopefuls: Master of Hounds +1200, Stay Thirsty +1800, Prime Cut +2000, Harlan’s Hello +4000, Isn’t He Perfect +4000, Monzon +4000, Ruler On Ice +4000
Past Odds