The final leg of the Triple Crown, the 2025 Belmont Stakes, happens Saturday, June 7 at Saratoga. Betting the Belmont Stakes is one of the most lucrative opportunities of the year, and it’s time to make plans to be a part of the action.
With Belmont Park still under construction, the race will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the Saratoga dirt, just like last year, since going 1 ½ miles would require putting the gate on the turn. It is still a significant test of stamina, though, and the $2 million purse also makes it a lucrative opportunity for the connections of any horse who runs well.
The race drew a field of eight, including the first three horses across the wire in the Kentucky Derby: Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza. Journalism also won the Preakness, and will be the only horse to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year.
With such classy horses lining up, it’ll be an exciting betting opportunity as well. So, keep reading to find out the best horses to bet in the 2025 Belmont Stakes, and the best online sportsbooks for getting real Vegas odds on the Belmont and on horse racing and sports betting all year long!
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These are the official entrants for the 2025 Belmont Stakes, along with their post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning line odds:
The morning line is not a guarantee of on-track odds, but rather the track handicapper’s best estimate of post-time prices. The good news is, you can lock in the best Belmont Stakes betting odds by wagering on the race at an online sportsbook! They offer fixed odds on major horse races all year long, meaning that instead of waiting for final odds at post time, you can lock in Las Vegas odds by placing a bet.
Then, all you have to do is watch the race, and be confident at the odds you will get when your horse crosses the wire first. It’s that simple!
These are Belmont Stakes Vegas odds at the leading betting sites:
 |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Journalism | +160 | +185 | +175 |
| Sovereignty | +200 | +175 | +200 |
| Baeza | +450 | +400 | +425 |
| Rodriguez | +500 | +500 | +525 |
| Hill Road | +1000 | +1600 | +1200 |
Handicapping the Belmont Stakes is a little different than in most years: unlike the traditional 1 ½-mile distance of the race, the race in 2024 and 2025 covers 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga. The change in distance means that any horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby has at least tried the distance.
However, horses who have not run in the Kentucky Derby have not tried it and even some horses who did try the Kentucky Derby may have had trip chaos. This means the race is still a distance challenge, and it is still important to figure out the running styles and distance pedigrees of each runner.
The best bet in the 2025 Belmont Stakes is Baeza. In a showdown between the Kentucky Derby winner and the Preakness winner, it’s this horse – third in the Kentucky Derby – who can turn the tables on them both. It’s not just his pedigree, which sparkles, as he’s a McKinzie half to both Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont winner Dornoch. But, it’s the way he’s going.
He made his graded-stakes debut in the Santa Anita Derby, and came close to being Journalism then. The Derby was kind of a nightmare: he was drawn far outside off the also-eligible list, ran into traffic around the far turn, and was still green down the lane – but gobbled up ground, almost catching Journalism for the place.
This time, he gets a much better trip and he has those last two races underneath him. He is tactical enough to track in range or come running late, a nice versatility since the pace is still a bit of a question. He can stay interested if things get tough…but if things go well he can finish best of all.
Of course, both Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism deserve respect in this spot. Both are consistent and classy horses who just keep showing up.
The edge between the two goes to Sovereignty. He has gotten five weeks of rest since the Kentucky Derby, a move in keeping with Bill Mott’s generally cautious nature. He rallied from well off a torrid pace in the Kentucky Derby, but depending on how much materializes with Crudo and Rodriguez he can sit a little closer. And, even as a closer, he can make a relatively early move and sustain down the lane, as he showed at Churchill Downs.
Journalism ran a good second in the Kentucky Derby, and followed that up with a heroic late run after bad trouble in upper stretch to win the Preakness. Trainer Michael McCarthy, another cautious conditioner, took his time committing Journalism – but decided he was ready to run again in the Belmont. He can obviously handle the distance and handle trouble, and especially if a torrid pace does not unfold, he could be very well positioned.
Crudo steps up to the graded level for the first time for Todd Pletcher, who has long been a force in the Belmont Stakes. The question with him is pace – both he and Rodriguez have yet to prove that they can run their best without the early pace. But, Crudo looks a little sharper to the early lead.
Furthermore, Crudo has a little more upside to prove that there’s more than meets the eye, compared to Rodriguez. Rodriguez has had two-turn races and stakes races where he has shown that he’s not the same without the lead. Crudo’s only time not getting the lead was a debut sprint with a troubled start. In only his fourth career race, there may still be more he can show.
Here are your best bets for the 2025 Belmont Stakes!
