Experts from The Post and Action Network handicap Saturday’s 157th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Post time is approximately 7:04 p.m.
New York Post racing handicapper
1. Rodriguez: This year’s Belmont Stakes (at Saratoga) has been billed as a rematch between Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby champ and Journalism, the Preakness winner.
Last year, Dornoch sped to the lead and held on at a hefty price. As far as I know, this handicapper is the only “expert” to pick the Belmont winner at Saratoga. Ever!
That said, we will go with Bob Baffert’s speedy Rodriguez, who will have to dance with the equally fast Crudo down the backstretch then hold off the heavy-hitting co-faves. Is he ready?
Money Mike Smith will be the first to know.
2. Baeza: He’s versatile. He’s getting better.
And he has already proven he can compete with the top-tier 3-year-olds.
Stormed from the back of the pack in the Derby, but Flavien Prat may tap his speed and get the jump on the co-faves.
This, I’m afraid, may upend our Rodriguez strategy. Backends a sizable exacta.
3. Journalism: Mike McCarthy’s colt may be the best 3-year-old and even with the three-races-in-five-weeks theory, he is the horse to beat.
Showed his toughness by bulling his way through stretch traffic to run down long shot Gosger in the Preakness.
Gets the better of rival Sovereignty, but Rodriguez and Baeza may be fresher.
New York Post betting writer
1. Journalism: Odds aside, I think Journalism is the best pick to win the Belmont Stakes.
He has shown he can win just about any type of race, putting him above Sovereignty for this battle.
2. Crudo: This is quite an intriguing horse.
He’s lightly raced and is coming off a monster performance at the Sir Barton Stakes, where he wired the field.
3. Sovereignty: Hard to poke holes in the second choice, but I think he had things break his way at the Kentucky Derby.
Action Network racing handicapper
1. Journalism: The morning line favorite yet again.
While he continues to find trouble, he is clearly talented and a length and a half away from competing for the Triple Crown.
He has been training well, and if he runs his race, he wins.
2. Baeza: Ran third to Sovereignty and Journalism in the Kentucky Derby and second to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby.
He had traffic trouble in the Derby but still finished with interest. He should sit closer to the pace and have first run.
3. Hill Road: Won the Peter Pan last time out after stumbling at the start.
He will need to improve off that race to compete here, but he should get the pace to run into.