2019 Belmont Stakes Odds, TV Schedule, Entry List & Preview

The 2019 Belmont Stakes will take place for the 151st time on Saturday, June 8. Called the “test of the champion” because, at 1 ½ miles, it is the longest of the three races that comprise horse racing’s Triple Crown, it has a purse of $1.5 million. This year, there is no chance for a Triple Crown, as Country House, winner of the Kentucky Derby, did not participate in the Preakness Stakes, which War of Will won. Even so, there is plenty of money at stake — and plenty of opportunity for horse betting enthusiasts to make some money.

2019 Belmont Stakes Odds, TV Schedule, Entry List & Preview

Television Schedule (all times Eastern)

• America’s Day at the Races (Thursday, June 6)
• FS2: 3-8:30pm
• MSG+: 4:30 – 7pm

2019 Belmont Stakes Access (Friday, June 7)

• NBC Sports: 5-6pm

151st Belmont Stakes Coverage (Saturday, June 8)

• NBC Sports: 2:30-4pm
• NBC: 4-7pm

Entry List with Early Odds to Win the 2019 Belmont Stakes

• Tacitus                                                                                    2/1
• War of Will                                                                            5/1
• Bourbon War, Master Fencer                                             8/1
• Intrepid Heart, Sir Winston                                                10/1
• Everfast                                                                                  12/1
• Spinoff                                                                                   15/1
• Tax, Joevia                                                                             20/1

The field right now has two clear top choices in Tacitus and War of Will. After that, the inclusion of Bourbon War really opens things up, and the lack of clarity after that means the superfecta (picking the top four finishers) and even the trifecta (top three finishers) could end up paying out a lot of money. Why is Bourbon War so high on the odds list? He had a dreadful Preakness Stakes, but he is one of the sons of Tapit, who has bred three of the last five winners at Belmont Park, and genetically he is close to the lines that led to Maximum Security and Code of Honors. The choice to use blinkers on him at the Preakness backfired, but other equipment choices could lead to a completely different outcome at the Belmont. The fact that Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will ride him in the Belmont could add to the likelihood of a comeback. Early in 2019, he dominated a race at Gulfstream Park and almost caught up to Code of Honor in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes. With a reputation as a closer, though, he could run out of gas late. Closers don’t usually do all that well in that race, because of the length. Master Fencer came in sixth at the Kentucky Derby, thanks to a late push that saw him finish. His workouts ahead of the Belmont Stakes have shown a stumble in the finishing that could lead to faltering on Saturday. He has not received as much respect from American bettors yet because, while he is the fastest rated Japanese horse here, the top three horses did not come over to race. Master Fencer put up an Equibase Speed Figure of 106 in his debut in North America. He also closed from last to sixth at Churchill Downs with Julian Leparoux riding him. Everyone else on the odds list is in the double digits. Sir Winston and Intrepid Heart finished second and third, respectively, at the Peter Pan Stakes (Grade 3), and then after that we have some even darker horses showing up. Intrepid Heart was the most expensive of the horses in this field, selling for $750,000 at auction. A bad sign for Intrepid Heart was a weak stretch run at that Peter Pan; while he did pass a few horses, he did not come as hard as he perhaps could have, but he still lacks a great deal of experience. Sir Winston responded well to Joel Rosario in the Peter Pan — their first pairing. He has put together a solid track record for the sort of racing he will need to do on the longer course at Belmont. Could he sneak into the trifecta or superfecta — or even the exacta? Maybe, but some other horses will have to fall off.