Rowan Ward
The $1 million Belmont Derby (G1) is an international showdown of three-year-old turf horses, and it its coming up on Saturday, July 9. The 2022 Belmont Derby drew a competitive field of 13 horses, meaning it should be one of the most exciting stakes of the summer. With such a large group, it will also be a can’t-miss horse racing betting event!
With English Derby contenders like Stone Age and Nations Pride, as well as American turf stakes winners like Emmanuel and Stolen Base, the race will be a showdown for the ages. This is the place to get expert analysis of the race, and find out the best places to bet on the Belmont Derby online.
Where to Bet the Belmont Derby
Knowing who to bet in the Belmont Derby is important. But, it matters just as much where you bet the Belmont Derby online. You have hundreds of options, but we are here to help! Our online betting reviews will help you get to know sites that have great user interfaces, the best odds available, and trusted deposit and cash-out functions.
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History of the Belmont Derby
The Belmont Derby started as a dirt race called the Jamaica Handicap. It was moved to the grass in 1994, and after it became a turf race it became one of the highlights of the fall turf season for three-year-olds. It has only gotten better since it was renamed the Belmont Derby in 2014, with winners like Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Oscar Performance (2017), and Travers winner Catholic Boy (2018).
The New York Racing Association built a Turf Triple around the Belmont Derby starting in 2019. That series continues with the Saratoga Derby on August 6, and concludes with the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park, typically run in mid-September. All three Turf Triple races offer purses of $1 million, meaning the fields will be big and the horses will be classy.
Belmont Derby Horses
This is the official field for the 2021 Belmont Derby. This includes post positions for each horse, as well as their trainers and jockeys.
- Implementation (Pia Brandt/John Velazquez)
- Stolen Base (Michael Maker/Luis Saez)
- Napoleonic War (Chad Brown/Flavien Prat)
- Classic Causeway (Ken McPeek/Julien Leparoux)
- Grand Sonata (Todd Pletcher/Tyler Gaffalione)
- Machete (Fabbrice Chappet/Stephane Pasquier)
- Sy Dog (Graham Motion/Manuel Franco)
- Royal Patronage (Charles Johnston/Joel Rosario)
- Tiz the Bomb (Ken McPeek/Dylan Davis)
- Nations Pride (Charles Appleby/Frankie Dettori)
- Emmanuel (Todd Pletcher/Irad Ortiz)
- Limited Liability (Shug McGaughey/Jose Ortiz)
- Stone Age (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
As the race draws closer, the track will release a morning line, which is its best guess for the odds come post time. However, your best bet is to check the odds at your preferred online sportsbook and place your bet when you see an overlay on your horse. Since online sportsbooks offer fixed-odds betting, they give you the opportunity to lock in the best odds the moment you bet.
Then, you can watch Saturday’s Belmont Derby confident that you have the best price.
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| Stone Age | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Nations Pride | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Royal Patronage | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Emmanuel | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Tiz the Bomb | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Free Belmont Derby Picks
The field of 13 means there will be a lot of interesting horses, both shorter prices and long shots. Let’s dive in and find out who has the best chances to win the 2022 Belmont Derby.
Belmont Derby Favorites
Stone Age will probably go off favored in the Belmont Derby. He was well bet into the Epsom Derby off of an impressive prep race for Aidan O’Brien, but ran off the board. This mirrors the profile of fellow Aidan O’Brien trainee Bolshoi Ballet, who shipped in and won the Belmont Derby last year. The one drawback, and the thing that makes him an underlay, is that he has yet to win a race without the early lead and he has to face sharp American speed here.
Nations Pride is the more interesting runner coming from the Epsom Derby. An up-and-comer heading into Epsom, he found England’s most iconic three-year-old race too much too soon. But, he is well proven at this shorter 10-furlong trip and has proven the tactical speed that Stone Age has not yet. Furthermore, his trainer Charlie Appleby has been dangerous with shippers to America.
Emmanuel, off his smart victory in the Pennine Ridge (G2), will probably be the most fancied of the American runners, not the least because his trainer Todd Pletcher has been red-hot. He has talent, and lures Irad Ortiz off of Sy Dog, but there are questions. He has to prove that he can go longer than ever while on an early pace that Classic Causeway will almost certainly challenge him on.
Belmont Derby Value Horses
The best Belmont Derby bet is Tiz the Bomb. He has been running on Tapeta and dirt all year long, but he returns where he belongs: turf. He won the Bourbon (G2) last year and ran a good second to Modern Games in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) last fall. He is pace-versatile and not hung as far outside as many of the other contenders, making him extremely attractive on the return to his best footing.
Though Limited Liability has yet to prove his class at this level, he is going in the right direction and has the makings of a top-class turf horse. His pedigree shines for the stretch out to ten furlongs. Though he only got up for third in the Pennine Ridge last out, he should have a more contested situation in front of him today and that makes him a serious contender.
Grand Sonata, the second-stringer for trainer Todd Pletcher, has a place in exotics. He has yet to break through against this kind of company, but he has yet to run a poor race in seven starts and he has the tactical speed to work out a trip in this field of thirteen. With a pedigree that should handle this stretch out to ten furlongs, he is worth putting in the mix.
Belmont Derby Best Bets
Here are the best bets to make on the 2022 Belmont Derby.
- $20 to win – #9 Tiz the Bomb
- $1 exacta key – #9 Tiz the Bomb with #10 Nations Pride, #12 Limited Liability, #13 Stone Age
- $0.50 trifecta key – #9 Tiz the Bomb with #5 Grand Sonata, #10 Nations Pride, #12 Limited Liability, #13 Stone Age
- $0.20 superfecta – #9 Tiz the Bomb with #5 Grand Sonata, #10 Nations Pride, #12 Limited Liability, #13 Stone Age
