The Belmont Stakes provides the first big Triple Crown horse racing betting opportunity of 2020, only a month and a half later than usual. With no Kentucky Derby or Preakness in May, there should be many eager to get in on the off-track wagering action for the year's marquee race at Belmont Park on Saturday (5:42 p.m. ET post time, NBC).
With a heavy favorite in Tiz The Law for the adjusted 1 1/8-mile race, the bigger payoffs may lie in who shows and places, and making those picks part of a exacta, trifecta or superfecta behind him. That should bring up more interest for the latest 2020 Belmont Stakes prop bets, many of which are set up to be an extension of Tiz The Law's expected strong performance.
Here's a look at all of the Belmont Stakes props offered, via SportsInsider, with Sporting News' analysis and pick for each one.
MORE: Get the latest Belmont Stakes odds from Sports Insider
Belmont Stakes prop bets 2020
First letter of the winning horse's name
- N-Z -550
- A-M +325
The later alphabet is dominant here with Tiz The Law, Tap It To Win, Sole Volante as the three top contenders based on odds. Go N-Z, with either Dr Post or Max Player unikely to pull the upset.
Will there be an inquiry after the race?
- No -1200
- Yes +700
No is the easy choice. This is the first Triple Crown race with extensive preparation behind it, so everything should be run cleanly and there's also great weather predicted, mid-70s for post time with no precipitation in the forecast.
Winning starting gate in the 2020 Belmont Stakes
- 6-10 -210
- 1-5 +160
Given the limited success of horses operating from post No. 7 or higher in the Belmont Stakes, here's a chance to take a chance on either Tap It To Win from No. 1, the most successful post, or Sole Volante from No. 2. The -210 is all predicated on Tiz The Law winning from No. 8.
Margin of victory
- Under 1 1/2 lengths -125
- Over 1 1/2 lengths -105
Whether it is Tiz The Law, a calculated speed horse, or someone edging him at the end, this figures to be a close-enough shortened race with no endurance pressure on the horses. Go with the Under.
MORE: Complete betting guide & picks for 2020 Belmont Stakes
Number of words in winning horse's name
- 3 or 4 words -225
- 2 words +175
- 1 word +600
By going with 3 or 4 words, you're basically boxing Tiz The Law and Tap It To Win, because every other horse in the field has shorter names. Sole Volante and Dr Post make 2 words intriuging as an upset, however. 1 words means you're banking on Pneumatic vs. Modernist.
Will a horse go wire-to-wire?
- No -800
- Yes +550
Tiz The Law is a complete horse in a field with horses that are either fast starters or frantic closers. That said, he will be more balanced and versatile, not expending energy to hold a meaningless lead out of the gate and saving his best for last. Go with the No as the no-brainer.
Will the track record for 1 1/8th miles be broken?
- No -2500
- Yes +800
Tiz the Law can be a great horse, but not that great. Go with the heavy favorite of No.
Will there be a 2020 Triple Crown winner?
- No -800
- Yes +550
American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) have provided two Triple Crown winners in five years after a long drought. In a regular Triple Crown schedule, Tiz The Law might have been set up nicely to follow in their tracks. But the long layoff until the Kentucky Derby creates a shaky unknown, so go with the No.
Winning time in the 2020 Belmont Stakes
- Over 1:48.5 -135
- Under 1.48.5 +105
Tiz The Law won the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby at 1:50 on March 28. Tap It To Win, Sole Volante and Dr Post have all yet to run at that distance. Go with the Over, as Tiz The Law will be more about the result vs. overheating with a long haul ahead.
