Contenders Looking to Beat Exaggerator at Belmont Park

Exaggerator is going to be the solid betting choice for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1), but at odds that will be south of even money it may be worth taking a stab he can be beaten.

His betting odds for the Belmont Stakes at Bovada stand at 10-11.

History does not side with the wagering favorite for the third jewel of the Triple Crown. Just three of the last 20 editions of the Belmont Stakes have been won by the favorite—Point Given in 2001, Afleet Alex in 2005 and American Pharoah last year.

The list of Belmont Stakes favorites that lost include some pretty tough customers, including Real Quiet, Silver Charm, Smarty Jones, Curlin and California Chrome.

With that in mind, who are some of the longshots that can turn the tables on Exaggerator?

Destin is at Belmont Stakes betting odds of 10-1 at Bovada and may be worth a long look. The Todd Pletcher trainee ran sixth in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness.

The colt won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Sam F. Davis (G3) in his two starts leading up to the Kentucky Derby, but he came into the race off nearly a two-month break, and history suggests it is tough to get 1 ¼ miles on the first Saturday of May off such a break.

He did not have the cleanest of trips in the Derby and looks capable of moving forward in the Belmont. His trainer has won the race twice, with Palace Malice in 2013 and with the filly Rags to Riches in 2007.

Creator came into the Kentucky Derby off an upset victory in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The colt rallied from last to first to pull off the upset at 11-1.

He was sent off at 16-1 in the Kentucky Derby and checked in 13th after a rough trip. The colt had to check sharply in traffic nearing the quarter pole, bumped hard with a foe coming into the stretch and finished evenly.

A cleaner trip should put him in the mix and he is listed at 22-1 in Belmont Stakes wagering at Bovada.

Stradivari may have as much upside as any in the Belmont Stakes field and is at odds of 9-1.

The Pletcher trainee made his stakes debut in the Preakness Stakes where he was fourth, beaten four lengths for the top spot. He certainly looks capable of moving forward off that effort.

Handicapper Michael Dempsey provides his full card analysis for Belmont Park daily at turfnsport.com. US Racebook readers can use the coupon code “sport” for 20% off reports through the Belmont Stakes!