Saturday, July 8, 2023 features one of the centerpieces of the turf racing season: the $1 million Belmont Derby. The 1 ¼-mile grass race draws leading turf horses from both North America and Europe every year. The 2023 edition is no different, as it drew a field of 11 horses to contest this race that is growing in importance year after year.
The Belmont Derby is one of the great horse racing betting events of the year as well. After all, with large and competitive fields every year, it can be a great spot for a long shot to shine. After all, in 2022, Classic Causeway used speed to his advantage and pulled off a 26-1 upset over hot favorites Nations Pride and Stone Age, a pair of horses coming from the Epsom Derby!
Keep reading to find out the best horses to bet in the Belmont Derby, and where to bet the Belmont Derby online.
Though most horse racing fans would love to be trackside to watch the race in person, not all of us can make it to New York for the race. Fortunately, you can be a part of the Belmont Derby action by betting the race online. Online sportsbooks let you play from your smartphone, tablet, or computer: anywhere with an internet connection!
Not only is it more convenient to bet online, but the best online sportsbooks also offer benefits you will never see at the track. Our recommended sportsbooks all offer real Vegas odds, great user interfaces, and trusted payouts. Not only that, they all feature excellent betting bonuses that you will never find at the track.
Choosing the right site can seem daunting at first, especially since the bonus offerings like deposit incentives, horse racing rebates, and referral benefits differ from site to site. Let our expert reviews help. In no time flat, you will know exactly which site offers the best bonuses for your betting style. This means hundreds or even thousands of dollars in cash or free bets!
This is the official field for the 2023 Belmont Derby including post positions, trainers, and jockeys:
As race day approaches, Belmont Park will release odds on the field. However, you are not guaranteed these prices: they are only the track’s estimate of post-time prices. Your best bet is to play the 2023 Belmont Derby from an online sportsbook. Since leading online sportsbooks offer fixed-odds betting on major horse races, you can lock in the best price at the moment you place your wager!
Kalik rides a three-win streak into the Belmont Derby including a score in the Pennine Ridge (G2), the local prep for this race. Though he wired his last two starts, he may not be fast enough to go with Wizard of Westwood early. He has won from a stalking spot, however, giving top turf trainer Chad Brown a good chance to win one of the last prizes on the lawn to elude him still.
The Foxes is the more attractive of the two intercontinental runners. Though he was only fifth last out, that came in the Derby (G1) at Epsom, a race from which the top two finishers have both come back to win major European prizes. His late-running style may not be the best for this race, but he has the class and the cutback to 1 ¼ miles should move him forward as well.
Silver Knott comes out for Charlie Appleby, always dangerous in the New York Turf Triple. That said, Silver Knott has settled for underneath awards in a pair of American starts already, including behind Kalik in the Pennine Ridge last out. The stretch to 1 ¼ miles may move him forward based on his pedigree, but he still seems more appealing for the exotics than the win end.
Wizard of Westwood could be magical indeed in the Belmont Derby. Trainer Michael McCarthy often wins with ambitiously spotted shippers. And, though this will be Wizard of Westwood’s graded debut, he is already a stakes winner at 1 ¼ miles. Furthermore, he shapes as the speed of the speed, and could steal the race at a price just like Classic Causeway did last year.
Webslinger steps up in class after a win in the Audubon, though he already won in graded company in the American Turf (G2) on Kentucky Derby day. What makes his Audubon worth crowing about is that he swapped his closing style for something more close-up. If he reprises that stalking style in the Belmont Derby he could get the right trip to contend late.
You have your betting account set up, and now you know the leading contenders for the Belmont Derby. Now, all you have to do is place your bet on the race! These are the expert best bets for the 2023 Belmont Derby:
About the Author
For a decade, Rowan Ward has been making horse race predictions and wagers in Chicago, and has been writing about horse racing for nearly just as long. Understanding the various factors that influence a race's outcome, they often find that the age-old saying "the pace makes the race" can uncover worthwhile betting opportunities. When it comes to handicapping, their favorite races are those held locally in Chicago, major stake races across the country, and two-year-old maiden races with intriguing bloodlines.
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