Belmont Stakes early odds

Triple Crown hopeful Funny Cide was a prohibitive favorite at 1-5 in early wagering for the Belmont Stakes on Friday afternoon.

Empire Maker, runner-up in the Derby, was the second choice, at 3-1, at 6:15 p.m. Eastern on Friday, more than 24 hours prior to the race. The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for 6:38 p.m. Eastern on Saturday at Belmont Park in New York.

Dynever was the third choice at 8-1, and Ten Most Wanted was the fourth choice at 13-1.

The field was filled out by Scrimshaw at 75-1 and Supervisor at 85-1.

The odds will likely fluctuate substantially from those posted on Friday afternoon, although it's unlikely that the order of preference will change. Morning-line odds on Funny Cide are 4-5, with Empire Maker the second choice at 8-5, according to Daily Racing Form National Handicapper Mike Watchmaker.

Will-pays for a double bet linking Friday's Acorn Stakes and Saturday's Belmont is probably a much better indicator of the final odds. In that wager, a bet combining the Acorn winner,

Bird Talk, with Funny Cide pays $15, the shortest price on the board, while the double combining Bird Town with Empire Maker will pay $20.

Next in line is Dynever, at $43. The fourth choice will be Ten Most Wanted ($108), the fifth choice Scrimshaw ($359), and the sixth choice Supervisor ($798).