At Least Nine Challengers to Run Against California Chrome in the Belmont

Belmont Stakes Odds: The list of challengers to California Chrome in the Belmont Stakes will be at least nine on Saturday, June 7^th. California Chrome should go off as the odds-on favorite in third race in horse racing’s Triple Crown. This could be the year that the long Triple Crown drought ends as California Chrome appears to be the real deal and the list of potential challengers doesn’t look very strong. Here is a look at the odds and the probable Belmont Stakes field.

Belmont Stakes Odds

California Chrome (even)

Field (-125)

You can take the field against California Chrome and lay only -125. If you want to bet on California Chrome or any of the other horses in the Belmont Stakes you can bet them as well. Let’s look at the current odds.

Belmont Odds

California Chrome                   even

Wicked Strong               7-1

Tonalist                         7-1

Commanding Curve       8-1

Ride on Curlin               8-1

Samraat                         20-1

Kid Cruz                        30-1

Social Inclusion             40-1

Commissioner                40-1

Matuszak                       40-1

Medal Count                  40-1

The odds include Social Inclusion although the decision about whether that horse will run in the Belmont has not been made. Another horse that might get into the race is Matterhorn.

California Chrome Looking Sharp

The early reports have California Chrome looking really good heading into the Belmont Stakes on June 7^th. “He loves this track, and I don’t see him having any problem getting a mile and half.” said exercise rider Willie Delgado. “This is the strongest I’ve felt about him winning a race. I’ve said it before; if he wins the Derby we’ll probably go all the way. He’s starting to show he can go over this racetrack very easy.”

The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. Since that time a total of 12 horses have won the first two races but then failed in the Belmont Stakes. The most recent failure was I’ll Have Another in 2012.

When the Triple Crown is on the line, the Belmont Stakes is extremely popular with bettors. A decade ago the race had its largest attendance of 120,139 when Smarty Jones finished second. Last year when there was no Triple Crown at stake there were just 47,562 fans in attendance.