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The biggest race of the year for three-year-old turf horses is the Belmont Derby (G1) on Saturday, July 6! The $750,000 race will be run at 1 3/16 miles on the Aqueduct turf while its namesake track is under construction.
Even with the move, this race is expected to be one of the best horse racing betting events of the summer, with top domestic and international turf horses trying to take down the first leg of New York’s Turf Triple. Keep on reading to find out the best horses to bet in this important race, as well as the best places to bet on the Belmont Derby online!
Where to Bet the Belmont Derby
Before you start looking at the horses, it is important to choose the right online sportsbook for betting the Belmont Derby. There are many options, but our experts are here to make a profitable choice easy! Our online betting reviews show you your best options. All of our recommended sites have the basics: with user-friendly interfaces, excellent odds, and reliable deposit and withdrawal functions.
Each site also has different incentives tailored to different betting styles, and we can help you find the best one for you. Choosing the best sign-up and deposit bonuses, referral incentives, and horse racing rebates for your betting style can boost your bankroll by hundreds or even thousands of dollars, so investing a few minutes now to find the ideal option for your betting style is the right call!
History of the Belmont Derby
The Belmont Derby, which will be run at Aqueduct while Belmont is under construction, is the prestigious first leg of the New York Turf Triple. The history of the Belmont Derby dates back to 2014 when the Jamaica was renamed and moved to July. It always attracts top-class horses from around the world, and its standout winners have included Deauville (2016), Oscar Performance (2017), and Catholic Boy (2018).
The New York Turf Triple continues with the Saratoga Derby, and the Jockey Club Derby. Introduced in 2019, the series was designed to showcase the best turf horses in the United States. No horse has yet swept all three legs of the series, but it has already made an impact by building a stronger sophomore turf division!
Belmont Derby Horses
This is the official field for the 2024 Belmont Derby. This includes post positions for each horse, as well as their trainers and jockeys.
- Legend of Time (Charlie Appleby/William Buick)
- White Palomino (Chad Brown/Flavien Prat)
- Royal Majesty (Bill Mott/Junior Alvarado)
- Trikari (Graham Motion/John Velazquez)
- Endlessly (Michael McCarthy/Umberto Rispoli)
Closer to the race, Aqueduct will publish a morning line. It can be a good guide to which horses are expected to take money, but it is no guarantee of a price. The best way to guarantee yourself the best price is to follow the odds at your online sportsbook of choice.
Since online sportsbooks offer fixed-odds betting on major races, you can lock in the best price on the Belmont Derby just by placing a bet! This is better than playing at the track, where you have to wait until post time to know your real price. Then, you can watch the Belmont Derby with confidence, knowing you have the best odds on your horse.
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| Legend of Time | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| White Palomino | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Endlessly | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Trikari | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Royal Majesty | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Free Belmont Derby Picks
Now that you have set up your online betting account and seen the field, it’s time to dive deeper and figure out the best horses to bet. Let’s get to know the top contenders for the 2024 Belmont Derby.
Belmont Derby Top Selection
It’s always true that the pace makes the race, and it’s never more true than it is in a shorter field like this one. Speed can get an advantage in a smaller field, and when other things favor the likely pacemaker, it makes that horse a strong bet.
Enter Trikari. The son of Oscar Performance was a 47-1 bomber when he won the American Turf (G2) two back, but backed it up with a quality third in the Penn Mile (G2), beaten only a neck for top money. Now he stretches back out, he is fast enough to get the lead, and he can get an excellent trip as the outermost of the horses who have shown pace.
Even if Trikari doesn’t make the top, he has won from a stalking spot, and he has won in a pace battle. The footing also suits him well: there is rain in the forecast for New York City through Friday and Saturday, and the way he ran in the American Turf after all the rain in Louisville that week means he should have no problem with the footing.
Belmont Derby Exotics Horses
The Belmont Derby is one of the few top turf prizes that Chad Brown still has yet to take down, but that doesn’t mean his horses cannot run well. If Trikari does not make the top, it means White Palomino probably does. He can win from just off the pace, however, like he did two back at Keeneland. Note that the maiden win came at 1 3/16 miles, the same distance as this race, and a win over Kentucky good ground means he doesn’t need things firm.
Among the rest, Royal Majesty appeals most. Unlike Endlessly, who has to come from well out of it, or Legend of Time, who prefers firmer ground, Royal Majesty has a win over good ground at Keeneland and he ran a quality third in the Pennine Ridge (G2), the local prep, while getting a stalking trip. His pedigree also appeals for the extra distance, being by Frankel out of Crown Queen (a Smart Strike half to Royal Delta).
Belmont Derby Best Bets
Here are the best bets to make on the 2024 Belmont Derby.
- $20 to win – #4 Trikari
- $1 exacta key – #4 Trikari with #2 White Palomino and #3 Royal Majesty
