2025 Belmont Stakes Best Bets for June 7: Take Your Pick of the Favorites
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Doug Upstone
- June 4, 2025
We might not have a Triple Crown race for the Belmont Stakes this year, but we have the next best situation. Horse racing fans at the top-rated sportsbooks can choose the winner of either the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes for this fun race. Or, they can take a long shot, or make a bet on what enough horse bettors might think is the best horse in the field, who has not won a race in 2025.
This opens up many possibilities; thus, let’s hop up on the saddle and consider what to wager on this Saturday at gorgeous Saratoga Race Track.
2025 Belmont Stakes
Saturday, June 07, 2025 – 07:04 PM EDT at Saratoga Race Track
Contenders
7) Journalism – Jockey Umberto Rispoli (8-5 Odds)
In some ways, it’s a little surprising to see Journalism favored on the morning line. Granted, the odds are very close to Sovereignty, whom he lost to at Churchill Downs. The reason for bringing up that Journalism is the only horse in the field that will have run in all three Triple Crown races, so stamina and freshness have to be considered.
One benefit for the Preakness champ is that, for the second year in a row, the race will be shorter at 10 furlongs (same as the Derby), compared to 12, with Belmont Park undergoing a complete renovation.
It is impossible to ignore that Journalism has won five of his last six starts and has never finished worse than third in his career. It would not be a surprise to see rider Rispoli keep his horse near the rail to save ground, yet positioned to go inside or out coming around the last turn. A win contender with the proper trip that conserves energy.
2) Sovereignty – Jockey Junior Alvarado (2-1 Odds)
Off a come-from-behind Kentucky Derby victory, Sovereignty should be on target to run a strong race. This is how trainer Bill Mott runs the show for horse owners, always giving the horse the best opportunity to win by keeping him fresh and on a measured training schedule.
This Kentucky Derby champion has won three of his last four starts, with the lone defeat being a second in the Florida Derby, in a race he didn’t need to win, having already qualified for Churchill.
Sovereignty will try to become the first Derby winner, excluding Triple Crown winners, to get a Belmont victory since Thunder Gulch two decades ago.
Early week weather reports show a 50% chance of rain Saturday, which could again benefit a closer like Sovereignty. Jockey Alvarado should have a hard-charging horse late to possibly win another Triple Crown race.
6) Baeza – Jockey Flavien Prat (4-1 Odds)
This will be a more heavily bet horse by those looking for a larger payday, and his odds could drop. Baeza has earned his place in this race for finishing second to Journalism at the Santa Anita Derby. And later running third in the Run for the Roses, coming out of the #19 gate, gaining ground in the last 150 yards on the two favorites in this race.
Like Sovereignty, the added rest can only help. History could also be working jockey Prat in the irons with Baeza, as 13 horses who didn’t win on Derby Day, who skipped the Preakness, have won the Belmont.
Best Belmont Stakes Betting Sites
| SPORTSBOOK | TRUST SCORE | BONUS | ONLINE SINCE | Bet Now |
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20% Cash Bonus
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2001
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$250 Free Bet
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2001
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55% Cash Bonus
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2001
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$750 Cash Bonus
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1994
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$500 Cash Bonus
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1985
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$500 Cash Bonus
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1983
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Longshots
- 1) Hill Road (10-1 odds)
- 3) Rodriquez (6-1 odds)
- 5) Crudo (15-1 odds)
Rodriguez and Crudo are early speed horses in this race and could have an impact on the outcome. If they set a hot pace and force the leaders to stay within range, this could wear down favorites, and either could hold on for a victory. Rodriguez is far more likely to do so with a 101-speed rating in his last race. He missed the Derby and Preakness with foot problems and entered as an unknown quantity.
Hill Road won the Peter Pan Stakes and has the ability. Trained by Chad Brown while having Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard is good news, and he’s won twice in five starts. The distance won’t be an issue, just running against the level of competition might be.
Writers’ Picks
Can definitely make a case for all three favorites. The best way to bet this is an exacta box, but the problem is the payouts would be so low that you might not get your money back. Here is our opinion:
- 1) Baeza 2) Sovereignty 3) Journalism
- Long Shot – Rodriguez
Final note: A $1 trifecta box would only cost $6, and you would seem to have a pretty good shot at winning such a wager.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
