3 exactas to consider for the Belmont Stakes

Although 10 horses have been entered in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, the like a three-horse battle between #1 Tap It to Win, #2 Sole Volante, and #8 Tiz the Law.

If you plan on playing the exacta (one of the most popular exotic wagers in racing), narrowing down which horses are most likely to finish first and second is the tricky part.

Fortunately, BetAmerica players will have a little margin for error. Thanks to BetAmerica’s Belmont Stakes exacta insurance, if your two horses both finish in the top three — but not in the winning order — you’ll receive a refund on your wager, up to $10.

Since Tap It to Win, Sole Volane, and Tiz the Law all stand a strong chance to finish in the top three, betting two of these three runners seems like a safe approach. Even if we don’t nail down the precise order of finish — say, they run first and third or second and third — the exacta insurance will trigger a refund on our losing bet.

But which two runners should we play, and in which order? Let’s examine the pros and cons of three wagering strategies.

Exacta #1: Tiz the Law over Sole Volante

Pros: Tiz the Law is the 6-5 favorite, based off runaway victories in the Holy Bull (G3) and Florida Derby (G1). Sam F. Davis (G3) victor Sole Volante is the 9-2 second choice, after he rallied to win a 1-mile allowance June 10. Tiz the Law has tactical speed and Sole Volante is a deep closer, so their running styles are complimentary.

Cons: Since Tiz the Law and Sole Volante are the top two betting choices, the payoff if they run first and second will likely be modest — perhaps $70 or $80 for a $10 bet.

The ticket: $10 exacta, 8 with 2

Exacta #2: Tiz the Law over Tap It to Win

Pros: Tap It to Win is 6-1 on the morning line, but looked brilliant when he crushed a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Belmont on June 4. He has enough speed to set the pace, and if he holds on to finish in the exacta, the payoff for a $10 wager might exceed $100.

Cons: Tap It to Win faltered badly in his two previous stakes attempts and could face pace pressure Saturday from longshot #6 Fore Left. Tap It to Win's inconsistency makes him less likely to finish in the top three than the more predictable Sole Volante, which could potentially spoi our chance for a refund.

The ticket: $10 Exacta, 8 with 1

Exacta #3: Tap It to Win over Tiz the Law

Pros: He has been inconsistent, but Tap It to Win’s powerful allowance victory was a huge step in the right direction — he missed the track record by just 0.54 and posted big speed figures. It’s possible this well-bred son of Tapit has turned a corner, in which case he can lead all the way, upset Tiz the Law, and trigger a hefty payoff — perhaps in the $200 range for a $10 wager.

Cons: Tiz the Law is a formidable favorite, so betting anyone else on top comes with an inherent risk. And if Tap It to Win’s inconsistency springs up again, he might feel inclined to finish out of the top three entirely.

The ticket: $10 Exacta, 1 with 8

However you choose to play the race, BetAmerica’s Belmont Stakes exacta insurance could keep you in the black if you come close to nailing the winning ticket but ultimately fall short. Good luck!