Jockey Flavien Prat has one Kentucky Derby victory and one Preakness Stakes win on his resume, but he remains in search of a triumph in the third leg of the Triple Crown. The 29-year-old Frenchman came close to completing the hat trick last year with Hot Rod Charlie, who was 1 1/4 lengths behind Essential Quality for a runner-up finish. Prat will have a shot at finally achieving the goal on Saturday when he rides We the People in the 2022 Belmont Stakes. We the People is the 2-1 favorite in the 2022 Belmont Stakes odds. Mo Donegal is 5-2 in the 2022 Belmont Stakes field, while Rich Strike, who posted a stunning victory in the Kentucky Derby as an 80-1 long shot, is 7-2. Post time for the Belmont 2022 is 6:44 p.m. ET. Given the shocking Triple Crown season thus far, you'll want to see what racing insider and Beyer Speed Figure maker Bob Weir has to say before making any 2022 Belmont Stakes picks.
A Saratoga Springs-based racing insider and Beyer Speed Figure maker, Weir is a two-time qualifier for the prestigious National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. He has produced multiple five-figure days at the track over the years, including a $60,000 Pick 6 at Del Mar in 2014. Last year, he was on fire. He hit the exacta in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, Tampa Bay Derby and Peter Pan Stakes, the trifecta in the Risen Star Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby and the superfecta in the Belmont Stakes.
This year, he has been red-hot in the Triple Crown prep races, hitting the superfecta in the Blue Grass Stakes, the trifecta in the Louisiana Derby and exactas in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby. He also has hit the $40 winner of the Man o' War Stakes, the trifecta in the Pegasus World Cup and multiple Pick 4s, including May 14's at Belmont for $1,851. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, he has handicapped the 2022 Belmont Stakes lineup, and has identified win contenders and horses to fade. He's only sharing them here.
2022 Belmont Stakes expert predictions
One shocker: Weir isn't high on Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, even though he's one of the top favorites. Rich Strike was a late entry in the Kentucky Derby after Ethereal Road was scratched the day before the race and pulled off the second-biggest upset in its history, joining Big Brown (2008) as the only horses to win it from the 20th post.
While his stamina is well-suited for the Belmont Stakes, Rich Strike's deep-closing style may not translate to success in what figures to be a slower-paced race. "He will need to overcome what is likely to be a moderate pace, and I will need to see him run well in a fairly run race before becoming a true believer," Weir told SportsLine. Weir prefers three horses over Rich Strike.
How to make 2022 Belmont Stakes picks
Weir is high on an "ultra-game" long-shot. He's also backing a long shot who is "dangerous" as a strong win contender. Weir is including these horses in his 2022 Belmont Stakes bets, and so should you. He's sharing which horses to back only at SportsLine.
So who wins the Belmont Stakes 2022? What long shot is a must-back? And who are the other win contenders and horses to fade? Visit SportsLine to see Weir's picks for the Belmont Stakes, and find out.
2022 Belmont Stakes odds, field, contenders, lineup
| Horse | Odds | Projection |
|---|---|---|
| We the People | 2-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Mo Donegal | 5-2 | SEE PICKS |
| Rich Strike | 7-2 | SEE PICKS |
| Creative Minister | 6-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Nest | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Barber Road | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Golden Glider | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Skippylongstocking | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
