For the first time since 1926, the 2020 Belmont Stakes was run at a shorter distance than its traditional mile-and-a-half length. COVID-19 not only led to the temporary shuttering of numerous tracks, but it also created disruptions in horses' training schedules and support staff's ability to work around each other. The decision was made to run the Belmont Stakes at a more standard length of a mile-and-one-eighth that year. Tiz the Law, a horse sired by Constitution, won two years ago. Constitution also sired the 2022 Belmont Stakes favorite, We the People, who is 2-1 in the 2022 Belmont Stakes odds. Other top entries in the 2022 Belmont Stakes lineup include Mo Donegal (5-2), Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (7-2) and Creative Minister (6-1). Post time for the Belmont 2022 is 6:44 p.m. ET on Saturday. With so much to consider while making your 2022 Belmont Stakes picks, a little expert help can go a long way.
While no one was in attendance for the 2020 running of the Belmont Stakes, the record for attendance was set in 2004, when 120,139 watched as Smarty Jones went for the Triple Crown. No horse in this year's field is a Triple Crown contender, but the crowd at Belmont Park for the Belmont Stakes 2022 will be a smaller one. Only 50,000 fans will be admitted to this year's race due to the space needed for the construction of the New York Islanders' new stadium, UBS Arena. The last game played in the Islanders' old stadium, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, came in 2015, the same year American Pharoah won the Triple Crown.
Given all the history, there's a method to picking which horses to focus on for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets in a Belmont Stakes like this, and SportsLine expert Jody Demling knows what it is. He can help you make the best 2022 Belmont Stakes picks possible.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the Belmont Stakes 2022 having nailed the winner of this race three of the last four years. He hit the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta in last year's Belmont Stakes with Essential Quality. Two years ago, Demling said Tiz the Law was clearly the class of the field, and Barclay Tagg's horse pulled away for a convincing 3 3/4-length victory. In 2018, he was all over Justify, jockey Mike Smith, and trainer Bob Baffert to make horse racing history at Belmont Park. The result: Justify became just the 13th Triple Crown winner ever, and anyone who followed Demling's lead cashed in too.
He's coming off a major heater in 2020: At one point, he picked the winners of six straight races: the Saudi Cup, Gotham Stakes, Rebel Stakes, Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Demling is at his best in the biggest horse races in the world. He has hit 10 of the last 14 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both races all but four times in the last 14 years. He's also called nine of the last 18 Preakness winners, keenly understanding when the Kentucky Derby winner was poised for victory or a massive upset, and nailed this year's Preakness trifecta. Anyone who has followed him is up huge. Now, he's sharing all of his 2022 Belmont Stakes bets here.
Top 2022 Belmont Stakes expert picks
Here's a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine's Jody Demling:
Belmont Stakes Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $15.00 at the 2021 Belmont Stakes with Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie.
Belmont Stakes Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $21.70 at the 2021 Belmont Stakes with Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie and Rombauer.
Belmont Stakes Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned a colossal $60.70 at the 2021 Belmont Stakes with Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie, Rombauer and Known Agenda.
While Demling has no quibbles with the favorite status of We the People (2-1) and Mo Donegal (5-2), he plans to hold tickets with Creative Minister (6-1) and Nest (8-1), as well as a double-digit underdog who could really spice up the payouts. You can see his picks here.
How to make 2022 Belmont Stakes bets
Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Belmont Stakes 2022. He's sharing them over at SportsLine.
So which horses do you take? And in what combinations? Visit SportsLine to get Demling's picks for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets for the 2022 Belmont Stakes.
2022 Belmont Stakes odds, field, contenders
| 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 |
