Justify Draws Rail for Belmont Stakes
Triple Crown contender Justify drew the rail position on Tuesday and remains favored in the 2018 Belmont Stakes. Here’s a look at the updated betting odds for Saturday’s race, as well as which post each contender drew.
Following victories at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Justify drew the No. 1 post position ahead of Saturday’s race as he attempts to win horse racing’s Triple Crown. According to oddsmakers, Justify is the odds-on favorite at 4/5.
Meanwhile, the biggest threat to Justify’s Triple Crown bid appears to be Hofburg at 9/2. The closer with only one win in four career starts drew the No. 4 post position for Saturday. He’s talented, but Hofburg is also incredibly inexperienced. He finished second to Audible in the Xpressbet Florida Derby on March 31, which was his stakes debut. Sent off at 27/1 odds in the Kentucky Derby, he finished seventh, passing several horses down the stretch after encountering some trouble at the start and through the far turn.
Also in contention are Bravazo and Vino Rosso, who are both 8/1, respectively, to win the Belmont Stakes this weekend. Bravazo drew the No. 3 post position on Tuesday. He finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and then nearly caught Justify in the Preakness Stakes. He had won his first two starts as a 3-year-old, including the Risen Star Stakes and placed in two 2017 stakes races as a juvenile as well.
As for Vino Rosso, he won his first two career starts late last year in impressive fashion between contesting two Kentucky Derby prep stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs to start his 3-year-old campaign. He underachieved in both of those starts and also finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby after racing wide throughout and never contending.
Wrapping up the odds and post positions, Free Drop Billy is 30/1 and drew the No. 2 post, while Restoring Hope is also a 30/1 long-shot and drew the No. 5 post. Gronkowski, who is part-owned by Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, is 12-1 and drew the No. 6 post, while Tenfold is also 12/1 and will come out of the No. 7 post. Finally, Noble Indy (No. 9) is 30/1 and Blended Citizen (No. 10) is 15/1.
Post Positions & Betting Odds for 2018 Belmont Stakes
(1) Justify 4/5
(2) Free Drop Billy 30/1
(3) Bravazo 8/1
(4) Hofburg 9/2
(5) Restoring Hope 30/1
(6) Gronkowski 12/1
(7) Tenfold 12/1
(8) Vino Rosso 8/1
(9) Noble Indy 30/1
(10) Blended Citizen 15/1