The horse racing spotlight now shifts to the Belmont Stakes in New York for the Triple Crown’s final weekend. With Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners set to clash in this event, there’s much on the line. Who will triumph in Saratoga? Our Horse Racing Belmont Stakes tips 2025 preview this event.
The 157th Belmont Stakes will again be held at Saratoga, with Belmont Park still undergoing renovations. The race’s prize purse has been boosted from $1.5 million to a generous $2 million.
| ℹ️ Event: | 2025 Belmont Stakes, Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds |
| 🏇 Venue: | Saratoga Race Course, New York, United States |
| 🗓️ Date: | 7 June 2025 |
The Belmont Stakes debuted in 1867 and was named in honour of banker and racing fan August Belmont Sr. Traditionally run at Belmont Park, it’s the oldest race in the prestigious Triple Crown series. Famed for its punishing 1.5-mile course, it has crowned 13 legendary Triple Crown champions. Due to Belmont renovations, the 2024 and 2025 editions were relocated to Saratoga and shortened. Secretariat’s 31-length triumph in 1973 remains an unmatched moment in racing history.
Saratoga’s 1⅛-mile oval, hosting the 2025 Belmont Stakes, offers a fair yet tactical surface. Unlike Belmont’s wider 1.5-mile “Big Sandy,” Saratoga has tighter turns and a shorter stretch. A unique feature of the race course is the Wilson Mile chute that branched sharply from the first turn. It was removed after 1972 to accommodate parking expansion.
Dornoch edged out Mindframe and pre-race favourite Sierra Leone to claim the 2024 Belmont Stakes title.
Before revealing our 2025 Belmont Stakes horse racing predictions for this event, here is how American sports bookmakers rate the chances of top contenders to win in Saratoga.
Sovereignty is the leading contender for the race and has the best Belmont Stakes 2025 odds to win. Sovereignty has now triumphed in three of his last four outings. Not taking part in the Preakness Stakes proved a wise decision by his connections, following his hard-fought Kentucky Derby win on Churchill Downs’ sloppy surface. He heads into the Belmont Stakes well-rested and primed to contend for the title.
Journalism entered the Triple Crown trail as the Kentucky Derby favourite after four wins, including Santa Anita. Though he fell short at the Derby, he bounced back superbly by claiming an impressive victory at the Preakness. With momentum on his side, Journalism now eyes another triumph in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes showdown. His odds for the 2025 Belmont Stakes show he is also a favorite.
Baeza returns to action following a strong third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Despite a wide trip from post 19, he finished just a neck behind Journalism. Thirteen horses since 2000 have lost the Derby but won the Belmont next out. Saratoga might bring good fortune for Baeza. He was a frontrunner at the Santa Anita Derby but later got outpaced by Journalism. He remains a serious win contender at Saratoga this weekend.
Rodriguez returns from a two-month break after a dominant win in the Wood Memorial. His victory was due to his early surge and pulling clear by nearly four lengths in a brilliant performance. A quarter crack sidelined him from the Derby and Preakness. With solid form and trainer Bob Baffert’s Belmont pedigree, including three wins, Rodriguez remains a contender to triumph.
Hill Road impressed with a late surge to finish third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. A fever ruled the horse out of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but it bounced back brilliantly. He delivered a career-best performance to win the Peter Pan Stakes. Now fully fit, this rapidly improving Chad Brown colt will now eye the Belmont Stakes glory on Saturday. However, the best horse racing betting apps offered Hill Road underdog horse race odds to win.
Here are our top predictions to bet on the Belmont Stakes 2025.
0
0
Journalism has proven his class with gritty performances throughout the Triple Crown season. Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, he overcame traffic to win the 150th Preakness by a nose. This indicates its determination and a strong closing kick. In the Kentucky Derby, he finished second behind Sovereignty after setting a bold pace on a sloppy track. His versatility across varying conditions and distances underlines his consistency and stamina.
Earlier in the season, Journalism claimed the Santa Anita Derby, affirming his status as a top contender. His tactical speed, proven closing strength, and adaptability position him well for Saratoga’s shorter, tighter turns in the Belmont Stakes.
Our Horse Racing Belmont Stakes tips 2025 are:
Journalism’s exceptional race this year, highlighted by his recent victory at the Preakness, gave him momentum to win on the road to the Belmont Stakes. Leverage our tips to stake and win extra cash.
