For the first time in five tries, Exaggerator finally vanquished rival Nyquist to hand the Kentucky Derby winner the first loss of his career at the Preakness Stakes. With Nyquist’s trainers deciding to keep the horse out of the Belmont, Exaggerator will enter the final Triple Crown race as the favorite to win.
2016 Belmont Stakes odds: Exaggerator listed as the betting favorite for Belmont on Saturday
Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator is the betting favorite over the field in the 148th running of the Belmont Stakes this weekend.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Exaggerator is going off at +125 to win the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y., at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. As a closer that is used to conserving energy until the end of the race to make a late kick, Exaggerator’s racing style should match up well with the daunting 1.5-mile length of the Belmont Stakes.
Early reports indicate that there could be rain as well, which would also work to Exaggerator’s favor as the horse has run three of his best career races, including his win in the Preakness, on wet or sloppy tracks.
A pair of Todd Pletcher horses are expected to be contenders in the Belmont Stakes as Stradivari (+700 to win) and Destin (+900) will try to hunt down the favorite.
Stradivari was a popular upset choice in the Preakness, but ended up finishing fourth in that race. Destin finished in sixth place in the Kentucky Derby, but that was on the heels of a rough trip that included multiple bumps from a crowded field. With a cleaner trip on Saturday, Destin could see a better result.
The main question for Exaggerator heading into the Belmont Stakes is whether the betting favorite can handle the extra distance. If the Preakness winner fades down the stretch, two strong closers that could hunt him down are Suddenbreakingnews (+700) and Cherry Wine (+800).
Suddenbreakingnews had a strong late kick in the Kentucky Derby to earn a fifth-place finish, and Cherry Wine came from the back of the pack to pass Nyquist for second place in the Preakness Stakes. With extra track to work with, these horses could figure into the exotic bets if not pull off an outright upset.
Rounding out the Belmont Stakes field are Brody’s Cause (+1400), Governor Malibu (+1400), Lani (+1600), Creator (+1600), Gettysburg (+4000), Seeking the Soul (+4000), Forever d’Oro (+4000), and Trojan Nation (+4000).
