Tipsheet: 2024 Belmont Stakes

An excellent field of 10 three-year-olds will travel 1 1/4 miles on the Saratoga dirt in the third leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday, the $2 million Belmont S. (G1). 

 2024 Belmont Stakes Picks

• #9 Sierra Leone
• #8 Honor Marie
• #2 Resilience
• #3 Mystik Dan

2024 Belmont Stakes Wagers

$40 win #9 Sierra Leone
$10 exacta key box 9 with 2,8
50-cent superfecta 9 with 2,3,8 with 2,3,8 with all

2024 Belmont  Stakes Contenders

#1 SEIZE THE GREY (8-1): Preakness (G1) star is in career form entering the Belmont and will be sent from the rail for D. Wayne Lukas. The Arrogate colt bounced out of his win at Pimlico in good shape and has to be respected for sure with Jaime Torres retaining the mount. 

#2 RESILIENCE (10-1): Bill Mott trainee made a big move at the top of the lane in the Derby before tiring late, and he has upset appeal following some smart morning drills as of late. The Wood Memorial (G2) victor owns the tactical speed to stay close and save ground in the early going, and the Into Mischief colt will be in the mix turning for home if he runs his best race under Junior Alvarado. 

#3 MYSTIK DAN (5-1): Kentucky Derby (G1) winner gave a nice account of himself when a good second in the Preakness (G1) and will be as fit as any runner in the field for Kenny McPeek. The son of Goldencents has a quick turn of foot and will be a danger approaching the turn for home beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

#4 THE WINE STEWARD (15-1): Vino Rosso colt is a bit underrated coming into his first Classic race for Mike Maker. First or second in each of his six lifetime tries to date, the New York-bred is a stakes winner on the surface and is another who will be in the hunt at the head of the stretch with a clean voyage. Manny Franco will be in the stirrups. 

#5 ANTIQUARIAN (12-1): Late-developing sophomore finished an even sixth in the deep Louisiana Derby (G2) two back, which preceded a measured score in the Peter Pan S. (G2) at Aqueduct last time out. The first of three Todd Pletcher pupils in the field gives the impression of a colt who will thrive at the distance, and he wouldn’t be a surprise if he improves under John Velazquez. 

#6 DORNOCH (15-1): Fountain of Youth (G2) victor didn’t have the best of trips when breaking from the rail in Louisville and gets a much better starting slot for this event. This Danny Gargan trainee will need improvement to upset this deep field, but he could grab a minor award with a lifetime best beneath regular pilot Luis Saez. 

#7 PROTECTIVE (20-1): Maiden finished third in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Peter Pan (G2) in his last two tries for Pletcher. The talented colt ran well on debut on this surface, and he’s not impossible in his initial try at 1 1/4 miles. Tyler Gaffalione riding adds to his appeal. 

#8 HONOR MARIE (12-1): Longshot contender lost his chance in the Derby soon after the start, although he did show interest when finishing a non-threatening eighth. This Whit Beckman trainee owns a robust turn of foot and has worked well as of late according to his connections. If the pace is contested early, which is very likely, then he will be a factor inside the final furlong. Florent Geroux inherits the mount. #9 SIERRA LEONE (9-5): Morning-line choice and top pick just missed in Louisville and looks to be the one to hold off in the stretch for Chad Brown. The standout son of Gun Runner is a pair of noses shy of being unbeaten from five career performances, and I expect him to enjoy the local surface in his first appearance at The Spa, as well. Flavien Prat will guide the stout late runner. 

#10 MINDFRAME (7-2): Wildcard in the group draws widest of all and comes in with a pair of dominant victories from as many starts for Pletcher. The son of Constitution made easy work of an allowance field at Churchill on Derby Day, but he has yet to be tested against a field of this quality at this stage of his development. Irad Ortiz Jr. stays in the silks and will have the Maryland-bred forwardly placed from the start. 

#9 SIERRA LEONE (9-5): Morning-line choice and top pick just missed in Louisville and looks to be the one to hold off in the stretch for Chad Brown. The standout son of Gun Runner is a pair of noses shy of being unbeaten from five career performances, and I expect him to enjoy the local surface in his first appearance at The Spa, as well. Flavien Prat will guide the stout late runner. 

#10 MINDFRAME (7-2): Wildcard in the group draws widest of all and comes in with a pair of dominant victories from as many starts for Pletcher. The son of Constitution made easy work of an allowance field at Churchill on Derby Day, but he has yet to be tested against a field of this quality at this stage of his development. Irad Ortiz Jr. stays in the silks and will have the Maryland-bred forwardly placed from the start.