Belmont Stakes 2020: Triple Crown Race Entries, Post Time And Odds For The Field

The Belmont Stakes 2020 is upon us, a race that will finally kick the delayed Triple Crown season off. The “Test of the Champion” is usually the third and final leg of the American Triple Crown, but this year it will be the first after both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheduling isn’t the only tweak to this year’s Belmont Stakes, as there was a dramatic shortening to the distance it will be run at. You can read more about that below, as well as find everything else you need to know to get prepared for this thrilling Triple Crown race. This includes information such as the full schedule, post time, TV channel, live stream, entries, draw results, odds for the field, prop bets and much more.

Belmont Stakes 2020 Schedule And Post Time

The 152^nd Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday, June 20. Post time is scheduled for approximately 5:42 p.m. ET.

Belmont Stakes TV Channel and Live Stream

This Triple Crown race will be televised by NBC, with coverage from Belmont Park in Elmont, NY beginning at 2 p.m. ET and running until 6 p.m. ET. Fans wishing to live stream the event can do so by visiting NBCSports.com or using the NBC Sports app.

2020 Belmont Stakes Distance

The unique twist this year is that the Belmont has been adjusted down to nine furlongs (1 and 1/8^th of a mile), a considerably shorter distance from the usual 12 furlongs (1 and ½ miles) it has been run at since 1926. This was done to account for training schedules that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Martin Panza, the NYRA’s senior vice president, said the decision to alter the distance was made unanimously:

“Our racing committee looked at it and basically unanimously said, let’s go in June at a mile and an eighth. Let’s not stress these horses and try to get them to go a mile and a half when they might not be prepared to do that.”

Prior to the change, this was the longest of the sport’s three major races and was considered by many to be the toughest of the trio to win because of it. The 2020 Belmont Stakes will be the shortest Triple Crown race now, behind the 9.5 furlongs at Pimlico for the Preakness and 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

Belmont Stakes Purse

There is $1 million up for grabs at the 2020 Belmont Stakes, which is down quite a bit from last year’s $1.5 million prize. There will be no fans in attendance at Belmont Park this year, causing a significant reduction in revenue for the event.  

Belmont Stakes 2020 Field, Draw Results, Post Positions, Trainers And Jockeys

The draw for the 2020 Belmont Stakes took place on Wednesday and revealed where each of the 10 horses in the field would be starting their Triple Crown journey. Tap It To Win’s team has to be happy about the results, as the horse secured the No. 1 post, a slot where 23 winners have come from, which is by far the most in the Belmont’s storied history. Posts No. 3 (Max Player) and No. 5 (Farmington Road) have also been fruitful, each producing 13 victors. Tiz the Law, who is favored to win on Saturday, is coming out of the No. 8 stall, where only five prior champions have emerged since 1867.

The jockeys participating in the Belmont this year include several former champions such as Joel Rosario (Max Player), who won here last year aboard Sir Winston and with Tonalist in 2014, John Valazquez (Tap It To Win)—another two-time Belmont victor with Rags to Riches in 2007 and Union Rags in 2012—and Jose Ortiz (Fore Left), who guided Tapwrit to a first-place finish in 2017. Javier Castellano (Farmington Road) will be looking for his first victory in his 14^th try after coming in second on three different occasions in this Triple Crown race over the last decade. Manny Franco (Tiz the Law) will be making his Belmont Stakes debut, but the 25-year-old has plenty of experience on these grounds, evidenced by his Belmont riding title in 2019.  

There are a host of notable trainers for the 2020 Belmont Stakes participants, including big names such as Todd Pletcher (Farmington Road and Dr Post)—a five-time Triple Crown winner who has had three horses land in the winner’s circle for this race since 2007—and Mark E. Casse (Tap It To Win), who trained both the Preakness and Belmont winners last season. Barclay Scagg, Tiz the Law’s trainer, claimed victories at both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Funny Cide back in 2003 and could complete the career Triple Crown if his favored colt breaks through on Saturday.

Here is a look at the post positions, trainers and jockeys for all 10 horses in the 2020 Belmont Stakes field:

1. Tap It to Win

• Trainer: Mark Casse
• Jockey: John Velazquez

2. Sole Volante

• Trainer: Patrick Biancone
• Jockey: Luca Panici

3. Max Player

• Trainer: Linda Rice
• Jockey: Joel Rosario

4. Modernist

• Trainer: Bill Mott
• Jockey: Junior Alvarado

5. Farmington Road

• Trainer: Todd Pletcher
• Jockey: Javier Castellano

6. Fore Left

• Trainer: Doug O’Neill
• Jockey: Jose Ortiz

7. Jungle Runner

• Trainer: Steve Asmussen
• Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez

8. Tiz the Law

• Trainer: Barclay Tagg
• Jockey: Manny Franco

9. Dr Post

• Trainer: Todd Pletcher
• Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

10. Pneumatic

• Trainer: Steve Asmussen
• Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr

Belmont Stakes Odds

The New York Racing Assocation, the organization that runs the Belmont Stakes, released the latest odds for this Triple Crown race in wake of the post-position draw on Wednesday. Tiz the Law once again remained the favorite after drew the No. 8 stall and is looking to become the first New York-bred horse to win the Belmont in nearly 140 years. At 6-5 on the morning line, Tiz the Law finds himself well ahead of the next closest competitors. Don’t sleep on contenders like Sole Volante (9-2), Dr. Post (5-1) or Tap It To Win (6-1), however, as these horses are all talented in their own right and could break through at Belmont Park this weekend.

Tap It To Win is coming off a victory at the Allowance at this track less than two weeks ago, although there are concerns about whether he will be able to keep pace over nine furlongs despite his recent win in an 8.5-furlong competition. Sole Volante has proven to be a strong closer, but the gelding will be coming off the shortest turnaround of any of the 10 horses in the Belmont Stakes field after winning an eight-furlong race at Gulfstream Park in Florida on June 10. Andie Biancone, Sole Volante’s co-owner and daughter/assistant of trainer Patrick Biancone, believes the recent run will propel her horse to victory and noted that he is in impeccable shape for Saturday’s big race (as per PaulickReport.com):

“We wanted to run him before the Belmont. To go almost 100 days without a race, they’re itching for it. They’re athletes. Mentally, he wanted to do more. Once he got that race him, it was like he said, ‘I’m all right, everything is OK.’ They love to run. Mentally and physically, he’s just perfect right now. We couldn’t be happier… I think he’s a closer. With a lot of speed in the race, hopefully he can sit back comfortably and pick his route from there. Also, this is the best he’s ever been right now, both fitness-wise and mentally.”

Fore Left (30-1) and Jungle Runner (50-1) are the two longshots in the field and have a chance to become the latest in an impressive list of underdogs to win the Belmont Stakes. Over the last two decades alone, a number of dark horses have bested the field during “The Run for the Carnations”, including Sarava (70-1, 2002), Birdstone (36-1, 2004), Da’Tara (38-1, 2008) and Ruler on Ice (25-1). Jungle Runner likely would have been a fan favorite if the crowds were in attendance due to jockey Reylu Gutierrez being aboard the horse. The 23-year-old rider hails from nearby Rochester, New York and will be making his first ever Belmont Stakes appearance this weekend.

Here are the odds for every horse competing at the 2020 Belmont Stakes:

• Tiz The Law: 6-5
• Sole Volante: 9-2
• Dr. Post: 5-1
• Tap It To Win: 6-1
• Pneumatic: 8-1
• Max Player: 15-1
• Modernist: 15-1
• Farmington Road: 15-1
• Fore Left: 30-1
• Jungle Runner: 50-1

The 2020 Belmont Stakes Favorite

Tiz The Law is the heavy favorite to capture the 2020 Belmont Stakes, with his morning line on Friday set at 6/5 (+125), which means bettors would win $1.25 for each $1 wagered on the 3-year-old colt. This horse is the only contender in the field to have any Grade 1 stakes victories under his belt, giving him a clear leg up on the competition.

The Belmont Stakes Twitter account shared footage from Tiz the Law’s final breeze before Saturday’s Triple Crown race:

It is worth noting that favorites have struggled here over the past decade, winning only 20% of the races since 1989. Still, it certainly will not be easy for the other nine horses to best Tiz the Law, who has been atop the list of favorites for months. He has won four of five career races and was last seen at the end of March breezing to a first-place finish at the Curlin Florida Derby by 4 and ¼ lengths. Tiz the Law also picked up a statement win at the Holy Bull Stakes back in February, a 9-furlong race that he completed in 1:42.04, finishing three lengths ahead on the fast track, a surface that he is unbeaten on.

Belmont Stakes Props

Sportsbooks are offering some unique props related to the 2020 Belmont Stakes, including betting lines on things like whether the winner will go on to capture the Preakness and Kentucky Derby, if the track record for the nine-furlong distance will be broken, the over/under on lengths the race will be won by, if there will be a wire-to-wire champion and much more. Check out the full list of prop bets courtesy of BetOnline.ag:

Will there be a 2020 Triple Crown Winner?

• Yes: +550 (11/2)
• No: -800 (1/8)

Winning Time in the 2020 Belmont Stakes

• Over/Under: 1:48.5 minutes 

Will the Track Record for 1 1/8th Miles be Broken?

• Yes: +800 (8/1)
• No: -2500 (1/25)

Margin of Victory

• Over/Under: 1½ Lengths 

Will a Horse go Wire-To-Wire?

• Yes: +550 (11/2)
• No: -800 (1/8)

Winning Starting Gate in the 2020 Belmont Stakes

• 1-5: +160 (8/5)
• 6-10: -200 (1/2)     

First Letter of the Winning Horse’s Name

• A-M: +325 (13/4)
• N-Z: -550 (2/11)

Number of Words in Winning Horse’s Name

• 3 or 4 Words: 4/9       
• 2 Words: 7/4       
• 1 Words: 6/1       

Will there be an Inquiry after the Race?

• Yes: +700 (7/1)
• No: -1200 (1/12)