Man o’ War Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Man o’ War Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Man o’ War is set for May 8 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Man o’ War Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Man o’ War Stakes
- Purse: $700,000
- Track: Belmont Park
- Date: May 8
- Post Time: 5:44 PM (ET)
- Live: Man o’ War Stakes Odds: Click Here
2021 Man o’ War Stakes Handicapping
Named for the horse that many in the US consider the greatest racehorse of the 20th century, the (G1) Man o’ War Stakes is the feature event on a Saturday race card at Belmont Park that includes four other graded-stakes races.
Open to horses age four and older, the Man o’ War is run at 1 3/8 miles on the Belmont turf course. The 2021 race has drawn an international field of eight starters.
Odds listed here are morning line odds from the Belmont track handicapper.
2021 Man o’ War Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Sovereign Race Odds: 8-5
The slight pre-race favourite, Sovereign ships across the pond from the UK to make his North American racing debut, bringing with him a record of eight in-the-money-finishes with two wins in 14 lifetime starts.
A Group 1 winner of the Irish Derby in 2019, he was out of the winner’s circle in all five starts in 2020, although he did grab the runner-up spot in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot last July.
His stateside trainer is Chad Brown, who won the race in 2016. Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the call to ride.
2021 Man o’ War Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Gufo Race Odds: 2-1
Kentucky bred Gufo has never finished out of the money in eight lifetime starts, winning five of those. Last out he finished third by less than a half-length in the (G1) Hollywood Derby, and the winner there last week came back to finish in a dead-heat win in the (G1) Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Prior to that he was a one-length winner of the Belmont Derby Invitational in his only other start at Belmont Park.
Trainer Christophe Clement won the Man o’ War back-to-back in 2009-10. Jockey Joel Rosario is also a two-time winner.
2021 Man o’ War Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Ziyad Race Odds: 6-1
Another UK-bred, Ziyad spent most of his early career racing in France, but has made three previous North America starts, finishing third in all three.
Last out he was just 3/4 of a length back to grab the show money in a very good field racing 1 3/8 miles in the (G3) Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. Prior to that he was beaten by just over two lengths over 1 1/2 miles in the (G3) Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland.
He’s trained by 2004 race winner Graham Motion with Manny Franco tapped to ride.
2021 Man o’ War Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Moon Over Miami Race Odds: 8-1
After starting his career racing on dirt, Moon Over Miami was switched to turf racing in mid-2020 and has had mixed results, with a win, a second and a third in his last six starts.
His last race may have been his best yet, when he rallied late to get up for second in the (G2) Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream six weeks ago. Prior to that he was third by a length in the (G2) Mac Diarmada Stakes, also at Gulfstream.
Trainer Bill Mott was the winner in 2019 and way back in 1987. Junior Alvarado will be in the irons.
Here’s My 2021 Man o’ War Stakes Free Pick.
From strictly a class angle, Sovereign has to get the edge as he has been racing at the very top level on his native soil, even if he hasn’t been getting the best results, and this race probably represents a drop-down in class for him.
At the same time, I’m wary of horses shipping in to make their US debut, and so I’ll try to beat him. I’ve always been a bit of a fan of Gufo, and I think he may very well be among the top five or six turf runners in the US. I’ll take him for the win, and also use Moon Over Miami, who I think could sneak into the picture to add value to the exacta and/or trifecta.
Full Field: Man o’ War Betting Odds
(By post position)
- #1 – Sovereign 8-5
- #2 – Moon Over Miami 8-1
- #3 – Ziyad 6-1
- #4 – So High 50-1
- #5 – Channel Cat 10-1
- #6 – Shamrocket 15-1
- #7 – Field Pass 6-1
- #8 – Gufo 2-1
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