All eyes will be on California Chrome on June 7 as he aims to complete the first Triple Crown in 36 years by winning the Belmont Stakes. As mentioned in our Belmont Stakes preview, the colt is the overwhelming favorite to claim the crown, but there are more than a few horses that could snatch the title away. Below we highlight three horses who, despite their long odds, may be capable of dethroning California Chrome.
Have a sneaky feeling that California Chrome will come up just short? Create a betting account now and read on for our guide to some of the best value horses in the Belmont Stakes field.
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Belmont Stakes High Value Sleepers
Samraat (+1,500)
Entering the Kentucky Derby, Samraat looked good as a possible sleeper. After all, he had won five of his first six starts and finished a strong 2nd in his first ever Grade I race at the Wood Memorial Stakes.
[sc:horses240banner ]Although he didn’t win the Derby, he also didn’t disappoint, as the colt finished a strong fifth place. Rested up after sitting out the Preakness, Samraat will once again be as a decent pick at +1,500 to win the Belmont.
Experienced jockey Jose Ortiz will still hold Samraat’s reins for the Belmont Stakes. Ortiz rode Samraat in the Derby, and ranks 7th in the overall jockey earnings for this year.
Commissioner (+3,000)
Making his first and only Triple Crown appearance, Commissioner is a +3,000 long shot at the Belmont. Commissioner is coming off a 2nd place finish in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, right behind fellow Belmont Stakes starter and +700 favorite Tonalist.
Commissioner will have Belmont-winning pedigree on his side. He’s the son of A.P. Indy, the 1992 Belmont winner and his trainer, Todd Pletcher, has handled two horses (Rags to Riches in 2007 and Palace Malice last year) that came away from Belmont Park victorious.
Riding Commissioner will be decorated jockeyJavier Castellano. The Venezuelan jockey has won well over $8 million this year, by far the most among all jockeys.
Social Inclusion (+3,500)
Despite placing a strong 3rd place finish in the Preakness, the oddsmakers are not big fans of Social Inclusion, who is +3,500 to win the Belmont. The concern surrounding him has to do with the 1.5 mile track. While Social Inclusion had the speed to keep up with California Chrome in the Preakness, he fell off during the final stretch.
That questionable endurance will continue to be a concern, especially with a longer track in the Belmont. But with his tremendous speed, Social Inclusion still remains a very intriguing pick to steal victory if he can hold on after taking the lead early.
However, it should be noted that Social Inclusion’s inclusion in the Belmont is still up in the air. Owner Ronald Sanchez and trainer Manuel Azpurua are still deliberating whether to start him in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes, which falls on the same day as the Belmont.
