Belmont Stakes 2023: Odds and analysis

The $1.5 million, Grade 1 Belmont Stakes drew a field of nine 3-year-olds who will compete on Saturday in the 1 1/2-mile test of the champion, the final leg of the 2023 Triple Crown.

The field has a distinguished group of trainers. Four of them won the Belmont in the past, three trainers are in the Hall of Fame, two have Preakness victories and three won the Kentucky Derby.

Six graded-stakes winners are in the field, with four of them having a Grade 1 victory to their credit. Three of the horses ran in the Kentucky Derby, finishing third, fifth and seventh, and then skipped the Preakness.

Four horses come into the Belmont with a victory in their most recent races, which include the Preakness, Florida Derby (G1), Peter Pan (G3) and an allowance at Gulfstream Park.

Here is a full-field analysis for the Belmont Stakes with the official track morning-line odds. The final leg of this year’s Triple Crown is scheduled for 7:02 p.m. EDT Saturday.

1.Tapit ShoesTapit Brad Cox / Jose Ortiz

2.Tapit TriceTapit Todd Pletcher / Luis Saez

3.ArcangeloArrogate Jena Antonucci / Javier Castellano

4.National TreasureQuality Road Bob Baffert / John Velazquez

5.Il MiracoloGun Runner Antonio Sano / Marcos Meneses

6.ForteViolence Todd Pletcher / Irad Ortiz Jr.

7.Hit ShowCandy Ride Brad Cox / Manny Franco

8.Angel of EmpireClassic Empire Brad Cox / Flavien Prat

9.Red Route OneGun Runner Steve Asmussen / Joel Rosario

It is worth noting that since 2000, only three horses won the Belmont with a front-running effort. Two of them were the Triple Crown winners Justify and American Pharoah, and the other was Da’ Tara in 2008. Also this century, only Point Given in 2001 and Afleet Alex in 2005 were able to win the Preakness-Belmont Stakes double.

Tapit Shoes and Il Miracolo could provide pace pressure for National Treasure, but history says that it will be difficult for him to win going gate-to-wire again.

Todd Pletcher and the sire Tapit will be trying to win the Belmont for the fifth time. Forte has been away from the races for more than two months, having won the Florida Derby in his most recent start. Tapit Trice returns from a seventh in the Kentucky Derby. He has the look of a typical late-developing son of Tapit and should benefit from the five weeks between races.

All reports say that Tapit Trice looks great in the morning with an impressive physical appearance and a long, smooth stride. Tapit Trice will be the top choice in the Belmont Stakes.