2012 Belmont Stakes Winning Pick - June 9th 2012
Exacta Picks, Trifecta Picks and Longshot Pick

Nobody could have predicted that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, “I’ll Have Another” would not be running in today’s 2012 Belmont Stakes race. A shot at the Triple Crown doesn’t come around very often and today would have been an exciting conclusion to the third leg. With that said, “The Race must go on” and one horse will capture the coveted win in this year’s Belmont. Below we will provide you with predictions for this year’s Belmont Stakes race including our recommended exacta pick and trifecta pick. Current post positions and odds are listed below, followed by our picks. Enjoy!

Winning Pick: Paynter
Exacta Pick: Paynter / Union Rags
Trifecta Pick: Paynter / Union Rags / Optimizer
Longshot Pick: Optimizer

We hope you enjoyed our 2012 belmont stakes winning exacta and trifecta picks article. Be sure to check back next year for more belmont stakes betting information from Touthouse.com

The final leg of the Triple Crown horse betting races is set to go Saturday night in Elmont, New York from Belmont Park for the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes. Just like last year, there won’t be a horse in contention for winning the Triple Crown after Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby and Lookin At Lucky captured the Preakness Stakes. Neither of those horses will be in Saturday’s race either, so a number of other horses will be looking to gallop to the winner’s circle and capture this year’s edition. Two of those horses just so happen to be the runner-ups in each of the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

Ice Box, who finished runner up in the Derby and First Dude, who placed in the Preakness, will be giving it a go on Saturday night. The following are the current horse racing odds for the 12 pony’s giving it a go in Saturday’s race from Belmont Park:

2010 Belmont Stakes Post Positions & Betting Odds
#1 Dave in Dixie +2000, #2 Spangled Star +3000, #3 Uptowncharlybrown +1000, #4 Make Music For Me +900, #5 Fly Down +450, #6 Ice Box +300, #7 Drosselmeyer +1200, #8 Game On Dude +900, #9 Stately Victor +1400, #10 Stay Put +2000, #11 First Dude +350, #12 Interactif +1200

Summer Bird rallied down the stretch of last year’s race to beat out Dunkirk, Mine That Bird, and Charitable Man. He went off the board as a +1100 underdog to do so, and shocked many when he pulled off the horse betting upset.

This is the race where anything can happen as it’s the longest of the Triple Crown races in terms of distance and most of the well established horses that ran in the Derby and Preakness don’t run.

If you’re looking for some extreme value on a horse in 2010 Belmont Stakes betting odds, the #7 horse Drosselmeyer might be right up your alley. Though he went off the board as the favorite at the Dwyer last month, he got off to a poor start and was never able to battle all the way back. He finished runner up to Fly Down (#5), but if he had pulled off the feat, he might just be the favorite in this race. Thus; there’s excellent value with him currently sitting at +1200.

Other no brainers include Fly Down, Ice Box, and First Dude, but they are favored to do so right now hence the lack of value.

Other interesting wagers at BetUS Sportsbook will really grab the attention of NY fans with the race taking place in Elmont! They’re offering horse props where you can match up the winning horse in Belmont Stakes betting along with the winner of the 2010 World Series (New York Yankees & Mets) and the 2011 Super Bowl (New York Jets & Giants).

If our proposed long shot of the #7 horse comes in, it would pay +12000 if the Jets won the Super Bowl, +17000 if the Giants won the Super Bowl, +4500 if the Yankees won the World Series, or +32000 if the Mets won the World Series; those living in the NY area or fans of the teams have to love those odds!

*****ATS Consultants says, “MINE THAT BIRD WILL NOT WIN THE BELMONT STAKES!” The 2009 Belmont Stakes has shaped up to be a pace-less race. With nothing to chase down on the front end and the defection of Rachel Alexandra, Mine That Bird will not be able to make his usual run. You watched Mine That Bird sit dead last in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness nearly 20 lengths back. He’ll sit way back in the Belmont too, but won’t be able to make his usual run. This leaves the door wide open for what ATS claims will be, “Christmas in June!” ATS has the winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta and it’s going to pay BIG!

How to Bet an Exacta for the 2009 Belmont Stakes
With this bet you must pick the first two finishing horses in the order of their finish. In other words, you must pick the horse that wins and the horse that finishes second.

Exacta Box – A “box” on two or more horses in a race means taking all the possible combinations of those horses in each place of finish. If you have determined that two horses are the best in the race but you are not sure which one will win and which one will finish second, then the safest bet is to do the exacta box. You can box more than two horses, but it is very important to remember that with each additional horse you add to the box that the cost of the wager goes up substantially. The formula for calculating the cost of an exacta box is (horses in box x (horses in box minus 1) x dollar amount of bet). A $2 box of two horses would be (2 x 1 x 2) = $4. A $2 box of three horses would be (3 x 2 x 2) = $12. A $2 box of four horses would be (4 x 3 x 2) = $24. As you can see the cost of the exacta box increases greatly with each additional horse. Also remember that you can wager a $1 exacta box. This reduces the amount of your wager by 50% but also reduces your earnings by 50%.

Exacta Wheels – If you are confident in a horse winning a race, but may have several choices as to the second place finisher, you may elect to do an exacta wheel. If for example, you think the #4 horse is going to win and either the #2, #5, #7, or #10 horse will finish second, you could place the following wager: ($2 exacta wheel the 4 WITH the 2, 5, 7, 10). Following the same formula for calculating the cost of the exacta wager as above we have (1 x 4 x 2) = $8. So it will cost you $8 to do an exacta wheel with one horse to win and any one of four horses to finish second. Another point to note is that some horses do not like to win. They allow other horses to pass them without making an extra effort to win the race. This can easily be determined by simply looking at their past performances. If for example, their racing record indicates that they have won one race and have finished second six times, you may want to place multiple horses in the win column and this “seconditis” horse in the place column. The previous wager might be ($2 Exacta Wheel the 2, 5, 7, 10 WITH the 4).

How to Bet a Trifecta for the 2009 Belmont Stakes
The Trifecta or triple is a bet made in horse racing to pick the first, second, and third place horses in a race.  The trifecta is the second most popular “exotic” bet in horse racing behind the exacta.  The payouts for hitting the trifecta can be astronomical.  The trifecta in the 2005 Kentucky Derby (Giacomo – Closing Argument – Afleet Alex) paid a whopping $133,000 on a $2 bet.

There are three types of trifecta bets; the straight trifecta, the trifecta box, and the trifecta wheel.  In a straight trifecta you are picking the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in a race and they must finish in exactly that order.  An example of a straight trifecta bet would be a $2 trifecta ( 3-5-8).  This means that the 3 horse must finish first, the 5 horse must finish second, and the 8 horse must finish in third – any other result and you can tear up your ticket.  It takes a bold and confident handicapper to make a straight trifecta wager.  In the Trifecta box you are covering all possible combinations of your 3 or more horses.  A $2 trifecta box using (3,5,8) would cost $12 because there are 6 combinations of (3,5,8) coming in – 3,5,8 / 3,8,5 / 5,3,8 / 5,8,3 / 8,3,5 / 8,5,4.  If you add another horse to your trifecta box (3,5,8,1) you will have 24 combinations and your $2 box will cost $48 ($2 X 24 combinations).  A quick way to figure out the cost of a trifecta box is to take the number of horses you wish to include, for example 5, and multiply 5×4×3 which would be 60, and then multiply that by the type of bet you want to make – $2 x 60 = $120.  For 6 horses the cost would be 6×5×4 which would be 120 combinations x $2 or a $240 bet.  As you can see, the more horses you add to your box, the higher the cost.  You do not want to spend $240 boxing the top 6 favorites and have the trifecta pay $22.50 with an even money favorite in first and an 8:5 second choice in the place spot

ATS Consultants is a featured sports handicapping firm on Touthouse.com. Be sure to Visit Touthouse.com for Belmont Stakes betting picks each year.

Below are the early probable horses for this year’s 2009 Belmont Stakes race to be held on June 6th, 2009 as well as the early 2009 belmont betting odds, jockeys and trainers. If you need the winning belmont picks, including the winning horse, exacta and trifecta be sure to visit ATS Consultants to cash in on third leg of the Triple Crown. ATS has been providing their clients with winning horse predictions for over 20 years.

Mine That Bird – ODDS 8-5
Jockey: Calvin Borel - Trainer: Chip Wooley
Borel goes back to the Derby winner as he’ll attempt to become the first Jockey to win the Triple Crown on two different horses. Mine That Bird might have to alter his running styles a bit given that one run closers rarely win the Belmont. Obviously the distance won’t be an issue as his daddy won the Belmont in 2004.

Charitable Man – ODDS 3-1
Jockey: Alan Garcia – Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
The “now” horse this week is 3-for-3 on dirt and looked great over this track winning the Peter Pan on May 9. This son of 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid is on the improve and could end up being one of the top three-year olds in the country by year’s end. Definitely a major player here.

Dunkirk – ODDS 5-1
Jockey: John Velazquez – Trainer: Todd Pletcher
This brilliantly bred son of Unbridled’s Song, ran the worst race of his career in the Kentucky Derby and could bounce back huge in this one. Should absolutely relish the distance given his pedigree. Look for a tremendous bounce-back effort here and a very bright future.

Chocolate Candy – ODDS 6-1
Jockey: Garrett Gomez – Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
This late-running type ran well in the Derby, finishing a solid fifth, after a rough start. We’re still somewhat waiting for that monster effort, but we believe it’s in there somewhere. Garrett Gomez climbs aboard for this race and Gomez is 1-for-1 on Chocolate Candy with a win last November in the Real Quiet stakes at Hollywood Park. Should be a bit closer on Saturday and is a must-use in your exotics.

Flying Private – ODDS 10-1
Jockey: Julien Leparoux – Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Ran better than we expected in the Preakness, rallying to finish 4th at 25-1. Can’t expect him to run that well again but certainly has the right to improve. Fairly solid form on dirt and won’t have any trouble going the mile-and-a-half.

Summer Bird – ODDS 15-1
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux – Trainer: Tim Ice
Desormeaux returns to the Belmont a year after the disappointment of Big Brown’s defeat last June. He’ll ride this son of 2004 champ Birdstone and try to shock the world like his daddy did five years ago. Summer Bird ran well in the Derby, rallying for sixth while being forced 7 wide. Look for a nice, honest effort Saturday, but not enough to be a serious contender.

Mr. Hot Stuff – ODDS 25-1
Jockey: Edgar Prado – Trainer: Eain Hartly
Another horse who ran one of his worst races at the Kentucky Derby. He had a lot of traffic trouble early and was never able to recover. Only has one career win but normally runs his race every time out. Working very well up to this race and could be one who will challenge in exotics. The switch to Prado is an obvious upgrade.

Luv Gov – ODDS 35-1
Jockey: Miguel Mena – Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
We don’t quite get this placement by Lukas as Luv Guv has only one win and didn’t show much in the Preakness. Is working well and should improve down the line, but probably not here. Distance shouldn’t be a problem being out of Ten Most Wanted.

Brave Victory – ODDS 50-1
Jockey: Rajiv Marjh – Trainer: Nick Zito
Nick Zito brings this son of Lion Heart to the Belmont after a third place finish in the Peter Pan. He’s run alright against similar this season but never enough to contend for a win. Gives an honest effort every time out, and you could do worse filling out exotics.

Miner’s Escape – ODDS 50-1
Jockey: Jose Lezcano – Trainer: Nick Zito
Another who they’re asking an awful lot of in this spot. He won the Tesio at Pimlico, which is hardly a major prep race anymore. A maiden score is his only win other than that and that was at Gulfstream Park at 15-1. After last year, you can never discount Zito, but we don’t see it happening again.

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Article courtesy of ATS Consultants. If you are looking for the winning 2009 Belmont Stakes betting picks, including the winning exacta picks and winning trifecta picks be sure to sign-up for the ATS Consultants Newsletter

Calvin Borel is back on Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and he can’t stop thinking about another Triple Crown victory.

“We’re gonna win, no questions asked,” Borel predicted after a workout at Churchill Downs on Monday, where the horse did a half-mile in 50 seconds.

That was his Derby-winning formula.

*****ATS Consultants says, “MINE THAT BIRD WILL NOT WIN THE BELMONT STAKES!” The 2009 Belmont Stakes has shaped up to be a pace-less race. With nothing to chase down on the front end and the defection of Rachel Alexandra, Mine That Bird will not be able to make his usual run. You watched Mine That Bird sit dead last in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness nearly 20 lengths back. He’ll sit way back in the Belmont too, but won’t be able to make his usual run. This leaves the door wide open for what ATS claims will be, “Christmas in June!” ATS has the winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta and it’s going to pay BIG!

“He worked in :50 and out in 1:02, just like before the Derby. He is doing everything the same,” the jockey said. “After those two hard races (the Derby and Preakness), I think the (gelding) is very happy.”

It seems like everybody in Mine That Bird’s camp is happy these days.

That starts with Borel.

He would have ridden Kentucky Oaks and Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra if the filly had entered the Belmont Stakes. But Barbara Banke, wife of co-owner Jess Jackson, says they’re looking out for her future and passed on the race. Borel said he is committed to ride the horse for the next year.

So Borel is back on top of Mine That Bird, with a chance to win all three legs of the Triple Crown on two horses, something no jockey has done.

He’s already way past his dream of just winning the Kentucky Derby. He’s done that twice, the first time aboard Street Sense in 2007.

And what do he and Mine That Bird need for a win Saturday?

“We just gotta get lucky,” he said, wearing a Mine That Bird hat, before the horse’s morning work. “Me and the horse fit good.”

The horse was still bouncing and kicking when he came off the track on his way to a cool-down walk and bath under the watch of trainer Chip Woolley.

“He’s just a happy camper,” Borel said.

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Woolley thinks his horse may be even better now after a second-place finish in the Preakness in which he was closing on Rachel Alexandra.

“I was thinking last week, he’s probably training better than he did going into the Derby,” Woolley said. “Calvin got the work I wanted out of him this morning. … They just looked like they were bread and butter.”

Even Banke is going to be on Mine That Bird’s side when the gates open Saturday.

“I’m hoping Calvin gets the Calvin Triple Crown,” she said.

It was only Friday that Jackson announced the filly would not run in the Belmont, making Borel available for Mine That Bird. Borel’s agent, Jerry Hissam, said there were never any hard feelings between the two teams and rider.

“We had to go the way we went, and (Woolley) was very comfortable with it,” Hissam said. “It’s all been real good teamwork between two camps and ourselves.”

Meanwhile, one of the horses Mine that Bird beat in the Derby, Nowhere to Hide, also worked Monday but won’t be competing in the Belmont.

Trainer Nick Zito said in a statement released by the New York Racing Association that he and owner Len Riggio have “decided to pass on the Belmont and look for another spot for him.”

Nowhere to Hide, who worked a half-mile in 49.92 on a training track at Saratoga, was 17th in the Derby.

Borel was scheduled to fly to New York on Monday. He’ll do a round of television appearances and ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange during the week leading to the Belmont. And, according to him, it’s just luck.

“I got the best filly and the best (gelding) in the world,” Borel said. “I can’t go wrong.”

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Touthouse.com Sports Handicappers – This year, the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. also named the “Test of the Champion,” the Belmont Stakes is the final and toughest race of the Triple Crown and takes place on the first Saturday that occurs on or after June 5. It is also the longest race of the three, at 1 1/2 miles. Though many in the current group of 3-year-old horses show stamina in their pedigree, only a select few will be up to the challenge of such a long race.

Below you will find the current betting odds for the 2009 Belmont Stakes. Bet the third race of this year’s Triple Crown, The Belmont Stakes at 5dimes.com online racebook. Only a few of the best thouroughbred horses have won all three races of the Triple Crown – The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and The Belmont Stakes. Even though no horse can win the Triple Crown this year, Calvin Borel has provided as much excitement as possible this year, as he was victorious in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Will he ride the winning horse in the Belmont? We’ll just have to wait and find out!!

*****ATS Consultants says, “MINE THAT BIRD WILL NOT WIN THE BELMONT STAKES!” The 2009 Belmont Stakes has shaped up to be a pace-less race. With nothing to chase down on the front end and the defection of Rachel Alexandra, Mine That Bird will not be able to make his usual run. You watched Mine That Bird sit dead last in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness nearly 20 lengths back. He’ll sit way back in the Belmont too, but won’t be able to make his usual run. This leaves the door wide open for what ATS claims will be, “Christmas in June!” ATS has the winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta and it’s going to pay BIG!

141st Running of the Belmont Stakes
Current 2009 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds, Horses, Post Positions and Jockeys
All Odds are subject to change – Click Here for Current 2009 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds

2009 Belmont Stakes betting early preview courtesy of ATS Consultants. Below you will find early horse probables and odds for the third leg of the 2009 Triple Crown, The Belmont Stakes. If you plan on betting this year’s 2009 Belmont Stakes, be sure to check back next week for the official entries, as well as expert betting analysis courtesy of ATS Consultants.

On Saturday, June 6th, at Belmont Park will be the 141st running of the 2009 Belmont Stakes.  The 1.5-mile Grade 1, $1 Million purse is one of six graded races on the scheduled race card.

Be sure to visit ATS Consultants for up-to-the minute odds and betting picks for the 2009 Belmont Stakes.

Known as a true test of endurance, the Belmont Stakes is the oldest and longest race of the three Triple Crown races. And it’s widely regarded as the most difficult to win, just ask the connections of Big Brown, Curlin, and Smarty Jones.

The hype or hope coming into the Belmont Stakes is the potential showdown between Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird versus Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra.

*****ATS Consultants says, “MINE THAT BIRD WILL NOT WIN THE BELMONT STAKES!” The 2009 Belmont Stakes has shaped up to be a pace-less race. With nothing to chase down on the front end and the defection of Rachel Alexandra, Mine That Bird will not be able to make his usual run. You watched Mine That Bird sit dead last in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness nearly 20 lengths back. He’ll sit way back in the Belmont too, but won’t be able to make his usual run. This leaves the door wide open for what ATS claims will be, “Christmas in June!” ATS has the winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta and it’s going to pay BIG!

If Rachel Alexandra’s connections decide to compete in the Belmont Stakes, she would be given a chance to be the 2nd filly to win this race in the last three years . as Rags to Riches took this race in 2007.

But this certainly won’t just be a two horse race, let’s break down all the potential Belmont Stakes starters as well as your 2009 Belmont Stakes odds.

Brave Victory, trained by Nick Zito, comes into the Belmont Stakes off a 3rd place finish in the Peter Pan Stakes, some 5 lengths behind winner Charitable Man. Brave Victory has shown no indication that he wants, nor can get the 1 ½-Mile Belmont Stakes distance, but let’s not forget Zito’s success in getting to the winners’ circle in the Belmont: 2004 with Birdstone at 50-1 & last year with Da’Tara at 38-1. Much like those Zito entries, Brave Victory will be long odds as well. Projected Odds: 30-1

The afore mentioned Charitable Man comes into the Belmont Stakes off a strong 3 ¾ lengths victory in the Peter Pan Stakes, run on this same race track on May 9th. This Kiaran McLaughlin trained colt is 3 out of 4 lifetime and could certainly find his way to victory here – like his sire Lemon Drop Kid. (won 1999 Belmont) And let’s not forget that McLaughlin won this race with Jazil in 2006. Projected Odds: 9-2

Chocolate Candy enters the Belmont Stakes off his 5th place finish in the Derby. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer skipped the Preakness with this Candy Ride sired colt, and pointed directly to this race. Expect Chocolate Candy to get some action at the betting windows, but I just don’t know if he is good enough to win this race. He could definitely land in the trifecta though. Projected Odds: 8-1

Dunkirk, like Chocolate Candy, skipped the Preakness Stakes and prepared for the Belmont Stakes. Dunkirk’s 11th place finish in the Kentucky Derby was a little disappointing, but truthfully he probably needed that race. Expect trainer Todd Pletcher to have Dunkirk ready to run a big one here. Much like Pletcher had the filly Rags to Riches ready to run in the 2007 Belmont Stakes – a race that Pletcher’s filly won. Projected Odds: 7-1

D Wayne Lukas will bring Flying Private into the Belmont Stakes off his 4th place finish in the Preakness, which was preceded by a last place (19th) finish in the Run for the Roses. Truth is that Flying Private prepped extremely well for the Preakness and then turn in a career best effort. Jockey Alan Garcia guided longshot, Da’Tara to victory in this race last year, but Garcia has a tough task getting Flying Private to the wire first here. Projected Odds: 16-1

Lukas also will saddle up Luv Gov. Luv Gov ran a lack luster 8th place in the Preakness Stakes. This spot is way too tough for Luv Gov, and frankly Lukas should probably find Luv Gov an “a-other than” allowance to run in instead. Projected Odds: 25-1

Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird impressed us in Louisville, and shows us the Derby was no fluke two weeks later in Baltimore. Mine That Bird will try to win the Belmont Stakes like his sire Birdstone did in 2004. If Rachel Alexandra chooses not to enter in the Belmont (which we expect she won’t run), Mine That Bird should be your betting choice. Are you a believer yet? Projected Odds: 5-2

Miner’s Escape comes into the Belmont Stakes off a win in the Federico Tesio Stakes run at Pimlico on May 2nd. Though Miner’s Escape might look a touch overmatched here, don’t forget about Zito’s success in the Belmont Stakes. And like last year’s winner, Zito trained Da’Tara, Miner’s Escape will try to win it from the front end. Can he go wire to wire? Projected Odds: 15-1

Eoin Harty trained Mr Hot Stuff comes into the Belmont Stakes off his 15th place finish in the Derby. Harty decided to skip the Preakness and prepare Mr Hot Stuff for the 1 ½-Mile Belmont Stakes. Look for Mr Hot Stuff to make his run on the far turn and don’t be surprised if Mr Hot Stuff gets a piece of the money. Projected Odds: 19-1

Super filly Rachel Alexandra beat the boys in the Preakness, in her first race under trainer Steve Asmussen. Though it would be nice to see her try to solidify her legacy with a win in the Belmont Stakes, I don’t expect her to enter. But let’s say she does run in the Belmont. She’ll be tough and most likely be the favorite. Projected Odds: 2-1

Summer Bird ran a respectable 6th place in the Kentucky Derby. This effort was good enough for trainer Tim Ice to prepare him for the Belmont Stakes. With just one victory in four lifetime starts, this spot might be too much to ask for from this inexperienced/unseasoned colt. Then again, his sire Birdstone did win this race in 2004 at 50-1. And Summer Bird runs on late like his daddy. Projected Odds: 20-1

Remember every horse has a shot in the Belmont Stakes – even the longest of longshots. The grueling 1 ½-Mile distance tends to trump a horse’s previous successes . keep that in mind.

ATS Consultants is a featured sports handicapping service on Touthouse.com. Be sure to check back for updated 2009 Belmont Stake betting information as the week’s progress as well as current 2009 Belmont Stakes betting odds, horses and post positions.

Big Brown has a chance to make history this year in this years online betting 2008 Belmont Stakes event. No horse has won the Triple Crown, made up of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, since Affirmed in 1979. That means folks betting on horses will have all eyes on Big Brown come June 7th.

Need the Winning Exacta Picks and Trifecta Picks for the Belmont? Click Here for Belmont Stakes Betting Picks

 So will all of the money. That means, of course, that Big Brown will almost undoubtedly go off as one of the shortest priced favorites in the history of the Belmont. Not only that, but for true BetUS online racebook betting fans Big Brown presents a very real problem. How will any real online racebook handicapper make any money on a short-priced favorite like Big Brown?

The answer is in the exotics. Big Brown’s win in the Kentucky Derby, when he went off as the 5 to 2 favorite, yielded a plus $3,000 trifecta. His win in the Preakness, when he went off the 1 to 5 favorite, yielded a trifecta over $300.

What the above shows is that a very astute online handicapper can make money on a race like the Belmont Stakes even though the horse most likely to win will be going off at less then even money. How does a handicapper do this? And, more importantly, is it possible in this year’s rendition of the Belmont Stakes?

The answer to both questions is yes.

First, online handicappers must realize that placing money on a horse to win, place and/or show when that horse is going off at less then even money is useless. Some might even call it stupid. The idea in betting horses is to get the most out of you what you wager. In other words you are looking for good online betting wagers, not for the winner of the race.

An example would be the win wager on Big Brown to finish first in the Preakness Stakes. His odds were a paltry 1 to 5. Big Brown did win but returned 40 cents profit for every $2 dollars wagered on him. That’s a tremendous underlay in horse racing terms.

However, the exacta of over $36 for a $2 bet to Macho Again, who figured to finish no worse then fourth in the race, was actually very nice. If you had simply keyed Big Brown over four other horses in the Preakness, and Macho Again had been one of them, then you would have made a profit of $28. It would have cost you $8, the pay-out was $36, for a profit of $28. Even if you had gone for the “big money” and keyed those same four horses on top of Big Brown, you still would have yielded a profit of $20.

That’s not bad. The best thing about this year’s Belmont Stakes is that the same logic applies with an added twist.

Because most online racebook handicappers have pegged Casino Drive as the best chance to take down Big Brown, those brave enough to make some hard decisions when figuring out their Belmont Stakes online bets will not doubt put themselves into a position to make an absolute killing on the 2008 Belmont Stakes.

Again, the idea is to look for good wagers, not for the winner. Here’s the thing – - Big Brown is going to go off at 1 to 5. What will Casino Drive go off at? Probably 6 to 5. Because the public will see the Belmont Stakes as a two horse race, almost all of the exacta, trifecta, win and place pools will have both Casino Drive and Big Brown eating up close to 80% of the money.

What then does an astute online racebook handicapper do? He drops one of those horses from his exacta and trifecta wagers.

That’s it. The likeliest outcome, Big Brown winning and Casino Drive finishing second, will also yield the least profits. It will also take a lot of money to even make the bet worthwhile.

Why worry? Take limited funds and drop either Big Brown or Casino Drive from your exacta and trifecta wagers. Sure, both Big Brown and Casino Drive figure to run like awesome machines in the Belmont Stakes, but nobody really knows what will happen once the gates open. War Emblem fell to his knees in the 2002 Belmont. Smarty Jones was caught by Birdstone in the 2004 Belmont. Not even the brilliant Spectacular Bid, who would have crushed Big Brown by about fifteen lengths, could win the Belmont Stakes and sweep the Triple Crown races in 1980.

The best thing to do, the best way to make the most money in this year’s Belmont Stakes, is to take a stand against one of the two favorites – - Big Brown or Casino Drive – - and then take a few bucks and go for a home-run.

It makes a lot more sense then putting $1,000 on Big Brown’s nose and hoping for over two minutes that he can pull something off that no other horse has done in thirty years or putting the win money on Casino Drive and hoping, almost beyond hope, that he could win a 1 ½ mile race in only his third lifetime start.

Sometimes the smartest online wagers are the ones that cost the least

Already enthusiasts are looking forward to the supposed horse wagering matchup and online betting opportunity between Big Brown and Casino Drive at this years prestigious Belmont Stakes. Big Brown, the winner of both the 2008 Kentucky Derby and the 2008 Preakness Stakes, and arguably one of the best horses to attempt the Triple Crown, if not the best, since Spectacular Bid in 1980, is a verifiable monster.

Big Brown’s past performances are breathtaking. He broke his maiden going 1 1/16th mile on the Saratoga turf course by 11 ½ lengths. He came off the shelf and won an allowance race by 12 ¾ lengths. He then absolutely dominated his peers in the Florida Derby by 5 ½ lengths. If you are a BetUS online sportsbook horse racing fan and haven’t seen what he did in this year’s Kentucky Derby and this year’s Preakness Stakes, then you’d better find those races on-line. Big Brown was terrific. He dominated from beginning to end and ran by his fellow 3-year olds like they were standing still.

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Why then does any online betting fan believe that Casino Drive has a chance against Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes?

Maybe online wagering fans shouldn’t. The truth about Casino Drive is that the Belmont Stakes, run at 1 ½ miles, will be only the third start of his life. That’s a tall order for any horse. He also will have Yutaka Take on his back. Take, perhaps the greatest Japanese jockey of all time, has never done well stateside. That’s another knock against the son of Mineshaft. Finally, Casino Drive just might not be as good as Big Brown – - no 3-year old in the world may be – - and there is a good chance that no matter what Take does on him, he won’t touch Richard Dutrow’s charge in the Belmont Stakes.

But there are reasons to like Casino Drive as well. In fact there’s a reason to believe that Casino Drive should beat Big Brown. Yes, I just wrote that. Not only should Casino Drive challenge Big Brown, but he should probably beat Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes. Now, I’m not ready to go out on a limb in all of my exotics wagers just yet, but there is a specific piece of information that tells me as an online betting racebook fan that Casino Drive might be in better position to win the Belmont Stakes then Big Brown.

I’ll get to that in a moment. First, here are some of the other reasons that a lot of punters are all over Casino Drive in the 2008 Belmont Stakes.

Casino Drive is a half brother to Belmont Stakes Winners Jazil and Rags to Riches. The key with this angle is understanding that Jazil and Rags to Riches have the same mother as Casino Drive. A lot of turf breeders believe that a horse’s stamina comes from his or her mother’s side. Speed comes from his or her father’s side. The fact that Casino Drive comes out of Mineshaft (that’s his daddy) and the mare Better Than Honour says that he should have no trouble negotiating the 1 ½ miles distance of the Belmont Stakes if his two lifetime races have given him enough of a bottom.

Casino Drive ran faster in the Peter Pan Stakes then Big Brown did in the Preakness Stakes. It depends on the speed rating that you adhere to, but the ones I use tell me that Casino Drive ran much faster in the Peter Pan Stakes then Big Brown ran in the Preakness Stakes. Granted, Kent Desormeaux was pretty much galloping Big Brown before the horse crossed the finish line first in the Preakness Stakes, but I still believe that Casino Drive was more impressive in his Peter Pan win.

Casino Drive will be a fresher horse in the Belmont Stakes while Big Brown will be tired after having to run in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in the span of four weeks. This one I will argue until the cows come home. No matter what you think of Big Brown there is no way for a horse not named Secretariat to not be tired after running two races in the span of four weeks then coming back a week later and running 1 ½ miles on the Belmont Park dirt strip. Big Brown is not Secretariat. He may not look tired and he may not act tired, but he’s tired.

Now I want to write about the key reason why I think Casino Drive should probably win the Belmont Stakes. It has to do with pace. While Big Brown’s pace ratings tell me that he is a traditional hang around the pace-setters then run then run them into the ground horse, Casino Drive is different. Big Brown attends to a fast pace, then he gets past the leaders, then he olds off the closers. More often then not Big Brown will run fast early and then slower late. This is the classic way that truly great horses win races. Think about Tiznow in your earlier years as an online racebook fan.

Casino Drive is different. What he did in the Peter Pan was remarkable not because he won by 5 ¾ lengths but because he did by getting faster as the race went on. That’s remarkable considering the fact that Casino Drive didn’t break all that well in the Peter Pan.

By the 1st call Casino Drive was only two lengths behind the front-runners in the Peter Pan. By the 2nd call, Casino Drive was still only 2 lengths behind the frontrunners. By the top of the stretch Casino Drive was a full 2 ½ lengths in front of everybody else. He increased his advantage in the lane.

The key is to understand that Casino Drive ran the last 16th of a mile in the Peter Pan in 12 seconds. That’s what superior turf horses do. He did this while, like Big Brown, attending a very fast pace. The six furlongs in the Peter Pan was run in 1:10 and change. That’s fast sprinter’s speed at Belmont.

When you put it altogether, Casino Drive might be the better horse just based on pace ratings than Big Brown.

That means that Casino Drive might be the horse to beat in the Belmont Stakes and not Big Brown.

Eighteen times since World War II horses went into the Belmont Stakes and a possible date with destiny to become a Triple Crown champion.

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That always reminds me of the 1942 pop hit that rings true today: “I’ve Heard That Song Before.” It was featured in the film appropriately entitled “Youth on Parade” — the year after Whirlaway became the fifth 3-year-old to perform the feat since Sir Barton in ’19.

Eighteen times the racing gods crushed Triple Crown horse race betting dreams since ’44 when Pensive lost by a half-length to Bounding Home. Actually, Belmont Park has been the Graveyard of Champions, even more so than Saratoga.

Close but no cigar has never been so telling: 0-8-5. In addition, five off-the-board runners in the Belmont included three fourth-place finishes.

Since Affirmed edged Alydar in ’78, I’ve had my fingers crossed 10 times that we’d see a Triple Crown champ.

In ’79, Spectacular Bid, the 1-5 favorite in a field of eight, looked unbeatable riding a 12-race winning streak that including seven straight victories as a sophomore.

The son of Bold Bidder, attempting to become the fourth Triple Crown champ during the ’70s, was bumped at the break and fell behind early. However, by the time he hit the stretch he was in command.

But Spectacular Bid weakened in the drive and wound up third. After the race, trainer Doug Delp revealed a safety pin had been found in one of his hooves the morning of the race. That caused a serious infection and the colt was sidelined for a while.

Big Brown is the seventh horse in the past dozen years with eyes focused on America’s most treasured racing record I’m hoping the son of Boundary has better luck that the past six. Let’s return to those June afternoons of yesteryear:

June 7, 1997: Silver Charm gave Bob Baffert three chances in six years to saddle a Triple Crown winner. The colt fought for the lead several times in the seven-horse field before getting in front of Free House during the drive. Then Touch Gold appeared on the far outside in deep stretch and rocketed to the wire first by three-quarters of a length.

June 6, 1998: Baffert sent out Real Quiet against 10 challengers. Up by four lengths at the eighth pole, the Kentucky Derby-Preakness Stakes winner began to shorten stride and bear out, which some experts said would have disqualified him if Victory Gallop hadn’t got his nose in front.

June 5, 1999: D. Wayne Lukas saddled Charismatic in a 12-horse field. After dueling with Silverbulletday much of the way, he tried to hold off Lemon Drop Kid and Vision and Verse, who hit the wire heads apart in that order. Sensing a bad step after Charismastic finished third, Chris Antley pulled him up and held the left foreleg to prevent further injury. Successful surgery sent the horse to stud.

June 8, 2002: Baffert’s War Emblem, facing 10 rivals, stumbled and nearly fell to his knees leaving the gate. After working his way from fifth to the lead after six furlongs, he dropped out of contention at the top of the stretch and ran eighth – the worst finish of any Derby-Preakness winner.

June 7, 2003: Funny Cide was only opposed by five challengers, the smallest field since ’94 when Preakness winner Tabasco Cat defeated Derby champ Go for Gin. Empire Maker, who skipped the Preakness after running second in the Derby, defeated third-place finisher Funny Cide in the slop as Ten Most Wanted ran second.

June 5, 2004: Smarty Jones entered the race hoping to join Seattle Slew (’77) as the only undefeated winners of the Triple Crown. Breaking from the outside post against eight foes, he took over after a mile and increased his lead to 3 ½ lengths with a quarter-mile to go. Birdstone, making up ground in the stretch, closed steadily to win by a length.