Belmont Stakes: My 2018 Belmont Stakes Picks
Justify winning the Kentucky Derby - Coady Photography
The Belmont Stakes post positions are in. Justify, who's attempting to become the second Triple Crown winner since 2015, drew the rail. Even before Justify drew the rail, I didn't like his chances to win the Belmont Stakes.
The horse's form appears to be going south. I think he peaked when he won the Santa Anita Derby. He wasn't as sharp in the Kentucky Derby as he was in the Santa Anita Derby. Plus, that race was a mess. He almost got caught in the Preakness.
I'm looking elsewhere for the winner. Heck, I don't even have Justify in my Top 3. Check out whom I like to win, place, show, and finish fourth in the June 9 Belmont Stakes.
The horse's form appears to be going south. I think he peaked when he won the Santa Anita Derby. He wasn't as sharp in the Kentucky Derby as he was in the Santa Anita Derby. Plus, that race was a mess. He almost got caught in the Preakness.
I'm looking elsewhere for the winner. Heck, I don't even have Justify in my Top 3. Check out whom I like to win, place, show, and finish fourth in the June 9 Belmont Stakes.
Belmont Stakes: My 2018 Belmont Stakes Picks
1. Restoring Hope 30/1
I don't adhere to the argument that Bob Baffert entered Restoring Hope to serve as Justify's rabbit. First, Restoring Hope is a stalker, not a front runner. Second, Justify should be much faster early than Restoring Hope will be. It's also doubtful that Baffert would enter a Mary and Gary West owned thoroughbred into a race without trying to win it.
Restoring Hope, under Flavien Prat, wins a maiden race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 2, 2018.
What makes Restoring Hope a great play (to me at least!) to win the 2018 Belmont Stakes? Several reasons. His sire, Giant's Causeway, is one of the very best in the world. His broodmare, Symbol Freedom, lists Tapit as her sire. There's also the fact that Baffert's top 3-year-old in the past couple of years have been late bloomers: Arrogate and West Coast.
Sure, Restoring Hope might not be as good as Arrogate or West Coast. But, let's be honest, Arrogate wasn't Arrogate until he became Arrogate when winning the Travers Stakes at 11 to 1.
I believe there's a lot going in the right direction for Restoring Hope. Fantastic works leading up to the Belmont gives me confidence he's sitting on a huge race.
Sure, Restoring Hope might not be as good as Arrogate or West Coast. But, let's be honest, Arrogate wasn't Arrogate until he became Arrogate when winning the Travers Stakes at 11 to 1.
I believe there's a lot going in the right direction for Restoring Hope. Fantastic works leading up to the Belmont gives me confidence he's sitting on a huge race.
2. Hofburg 9/2
The last two Belmont Stakes winners had something huge in common. Both had been sired by Tapit. Hofburg is the only horse in the 2018 Belmont Stakes to have been sired by Tapit. That's a big plus. Another big plus is that he found himself in all sorts of trouble in the Kentucky Derby, but didn't give up. He kept fighting
on to finish 7th after an incredibly brutal trip.
Trainer Bill Mott doesn't rush his horses. If he believes Hofburg can win the Belmont Stakes, who am I to argue? I think he's the most logical contender in the field, even more logical than Justify. But, his odds won't be at an overlay price at all. In fact, don't be surprised if he offers 3/1 odds on race day. I'm hoping he comes up just short to Restoring Hope.
Trainer Bill Mott doesn't rush his horses. If he believes Hofburg can win the Belmont Stakes, who am I to argue? I think he's the most logical contender in the field, even more logical than Justify. But, his odds won't be at an overlay price at all. In fact, don't be surprised if he offers 3/1 odds on race day. I'm hoping he comes up just short to Restoring Hope.
3. Vino Rosso 8/1
Todd Pletcher is no stranger to the Belmont Stakes winner's circle.
Pletcher has won 3 Belmont Stakes: Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013, and with Tapwrit last year. Todd knows how to get horses ready to win the Test of Champions.Vino Rosso should be ready. I'm not worried about his Kentucky Derby performance. Johnny V. had to take him wide around both turns. He pretty much had no shot right after the gates opened. I expect a similar performance from what we saw in the Wood Memorial than from what we saw in the Derby.
4. Justify 4/5
I've already written why I'm not a fan of Justify to win the Belmont Stakes. To add a bit more color, I
Jockey Mike Smith aboard Kentucky Derby winner Justify - Coady Photography
think he's a tired horse. He beat his competition in the Preakness Stakes on sheer will. That could work in a 1 3/16 mile race. That won't work in a 1 1/2 mile race.
Justify is a good race horse. You must be a special race horse to win the Triple Crown. It's something that Sunday Silence, Spectacular Bid, Tim Tam, Northern Dancer, Silver Charm, and California Chrome couldn't do. All of those horses were good horses. A few of those horses were great horses.
The Belmont will be Justify's sixth race in his career and it will happen since February 18. That's a lot of running for a young horse. I think he runs well. I don't believe he's fresh enough to get into the Top 3.
Justify is a good race horse. You must be a special race horse to win the Triple Crown. It's something that Sunday Silence, Spectacular Bid, Tim Tam, Northern Dancer, Silver Charm, and California Chrome couldn't do. All of those horses were good horses. A few of those horses were great horses.
The Belmont will be Justify's sixth race in his career and it will happen since February 18. That's a lot of running for a young horse. I think he runs well. I don't believe he's fresh enough to get into the Top 3.
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