Over the last 154 years, the only time the Belmont Stakes hasn't been held was in 1911 and 1912, when anti-gambling legislation was passed in New York and the track in Elmont was closed. Since then, not even COVID-19 shuttered the race, and organizers will run it again this year under arduous circumstances. Smoke from wildfires in Canada has created air quality issues all over the Northeast, but racing has resumed at Belmont Park ahead of Saturday's 2023 Belmont Stakes. Forte is the 5-2 favorite in the latest Belmont Stakes odds, but will have to contend with other top 2023 Belmont Stakes entries like Preakness winner National Treasure (5-1) and Tapit Trice (3-1).
Post time is scheduled for 7:02 p.m. ET at Belmont Park. With so much to consider while making your 2023 Belmont Stakes picks, a little expert help can go a long way.
Tiz the Law won the 2020 Belmont Stakes in a year in which the Triple Crown schedule was upended by COVID-19. In doing so, he was the first New York-bred winner since 1882, a span of 138 years. The state of Kentucky has produced the most Belmont Stakes winners with 104. Virginia is next on the list with 11, but the 2023 Belmont Stakes field only features one horse that isn't from the Bluegrass State. Red Route one is the outlier and hails from Pennsylvania, which has only produced one Belmont winner, Saunterer in 1881.
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 2023 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 nailed the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the 2023 Preakness Stakes. Demling also enters the Belmont Stakes 2023 having nailed the winner of the final Triple Crown race four of the last five years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also called Flightline's win at the Breeders' Cup Classic last November.
Additionally, he has hit 10 of the last 15 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both races all but five times in the last 15 tries. Anybody following him in those races saw huge returns. Now, he's sharing all of his 2023 Belmont Stakes bets here.
Top 2023 Belmont Stakes expert picks
Here's a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine's Jody Demling:
Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $27.60 at the 2022 Belmont Stakes with Mo Donegal and Nest.
Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $187.50 at the 2022 Belmont Stakes with Mo Donegal, Nest and Skippylongstocking.
Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned $692 at the 2022 Belmont Stakes with Mo Donegal, Nest, Skippylongstocking and We the People.
While Demling has no quibbles with the favorite status of Forte (5-2), he is also holding tickets with Tapit Trice (3-1) and is using a middle-of-the-pack longshot in his exotics who could spice up the payouts. You can see his picks here.
How to make 2023 Belmont Stakes bets
Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Belmont Stakes 2023. 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 2023 Belmont Stakes.
2023 Belmont Stakes odds, lineup
Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projection |
| 1 | Tapit Shoes | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Tapit Trice | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Arcangelo | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | National Treasure | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Il Miracolo | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Forte | 5-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | Hit Show | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Angel of Empire | 7-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 9 | Red Route One | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
