Belmont Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2025 Belmont Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2025 (G1) Belmont Stakes is set for June 7 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Belmont Stakes Preview
- Race: Belmont Stakes
- Purse: $2 million
- Distance: 1 1/4 miles
- Track: Saratoga Race Course
- Date: June 7, 2025
- Post Time: 7:04 PM (ET)
- Live: Belmont Stakes Odds: Click Here
Before we can give you our expert 2025 Belmont Stakes free pick, we have to break down the entries! In fact, we’d love to hear from you after you’ve given this post a read to see if you see an angle that we don’t!
2025 Belmont Stakes Handicapping
For the second year the (G1) Belmont Stakes will be run at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga rather than 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park, as that track continues a two-year renovation project.
And despite the fact the shorter Belmont Stakes will be run without a Triple Crown bid on the line, the race still shapes up to be an excellent battle between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes winner (and Derby runner-up) Journalism. Add Derby third-place finisher Baeza and West coast speedster Rodriguez to the mix, and it’s shaping up to be a great race.
Eight are expected to go to the gate on Saturday. Although light rain is expected in the morning, things should clear up in time to produce a dry and fast track.
Odds listed here are provided by the Saratoga track oddsmaker.
2025 Belmont Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Journalism Race Odds: 8-5
If Journalism does manage to win, it’ll likely be a bittersweet moment for his connections, as it will mean he was just 1 1/2 lengths – the distance of his Derby loss – from being a Triple Crown champion.
He has been the model of consistency throughout his career, hitting the board in all seven lifetime starts with five wins. Each of his last four races have produced triple-digit Brisnet speed figures, two more than any other horse in the field. He’ll be stalking off the early pace and should have plenty of speed to run at as they turn for home.
2025 Belmont Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Sovereignty Odds: 2-1
Breaking in 16th place in the Derby, Sovereignty had to overcome a fair amount of trip trouble, clipping heels early with a rival and then having to swing six wide off the turn before running down the leaders in the stretch.
He’ll have less than half the traffic to deal with here, and should get a clean trip. He’ll likely be near the back of the field early, but closer than he was in the Derby. When Journalism goes, he’ll go, and the drag race will be on.
Baeza Race Odds: 4-1
In his last two starts, Baeza has finished behind Journalism by only 3/4 length in the (G1) Santa Anita Derby and a neck in the Kentucky Derby and would likely have passed him at Churchill before running out of track at the wire.
So he’s been that close to beating the favourite, yet he’s more than double that rival in the ML odds. He has good tactical speed and a slugfest between the top two down the lane could play right into his hands. Or hoofs, as it is.
Rodriguez Race Odds: 6-1
Along with long shot Crudo, Rodriguez is the most logical front-runner in the field. Both of his wins have come in wire-to-wire fashion, including his maiden score where he beat Baeza by seven lengths racing one mile at Santa Anita back in January.
Last out he was a 3 1/2 length winner of the (G2) Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Prior to that he was third in the (G2) San Filipe Stakes at Santa Anita, 11 lengths behind Journalism.
Here’s My 2025 Belmont Stakes Free Pick.
It’s tough to knock Journalism and his record speaks for itself. On paper he has the most back-class in the field, he’s more than battle tested, and his one work at Saratoga prepping for this was very solid. As mentioned earlier, he could come just that close to being a Triple Crown winner.
But at low odds, I’m going to try and beat him. It has been mentioned that the wet track in the Derby may have hindered him a bit and worked in Sovereignty’s favour, but I don’t really buy it. Journalism had a relatively smooth trip, ran his race and made the lead, and Sovereignty simply ran him down.
It also nags at me a bit that once he was able to bang through a pair of horses to get running room in the Preakness stretch drive, he was all out to catch and pass the 15-1 pacesetter, only prevailing by a half-length.
Full credit to the connections of Journalism for trying all three legs of the TC, but Sovereignty and Baeza are both coming into this fresh, and I think that’s going to make the difference.
I’m going to bet that it’ll be Sovereignty that takes two of the three TC races and I’ll box him in the exacta with Baeza.
Full Field: 2025 Belmont Stakes Odds
By post position
- #1 – Hill Road 10-1
- #2 – Sovereignty 2-1
- #3 – Rodriguez 6-1
- #4 – Uncaged 30-1
- #5 – Crudo 15-1
- #6 – Baeza 4-1
- #7 – Journalism 8-5
- #8 – Heart of Honor 30-1
2025 Belmont Stakes Racebooks / Betting Apps We Like!
- 50% Reload Bonuses
- Daily Player Promos
- Live Dealer Casino
- Crypto Deposits
- Same-Game Parlays
- Casino + Poker
- Same-Game Parlays
- Overnight Lines
- Progressive Jackpots
- Reduced-Juice Lines
- 7% Racebook Rebate
- 100% Crypto Bonus
- VIP Cash Rewards
- Live Betting & Props
- High Betting Limits
Register here for a FREE Sports Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers! Please Follow our LINKTR.EE.
OUR Top 3 Racebooks are — MYBookie — Bovada — BetOnline
