The blanket of carnations draped over the railing by the parking spot marked for trainer Todd Pletcher at his barn Sunday morning told the story of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. On Sunday morning, they were decoration, but on Saturday, they were laid across the withers of Mo Donegal, who provided Pletcher with his fourth Belmont victory in a race in which he swept the top two spots.
Total handle on the Belmont Stakes on Saturday was down 16.5 percent compared to betting on the race last year, according to charts of the races.
Before the running of the 154th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park, the familiar tune of “New York, New York” was played as the horses came onto the track. Apropos, is that for years owner Mike Repole, a native New Yorker, has been a part of it, though he had never won it. This time, though, when Repole awakens Sunday morning in the city that never sleeps, he’ll find he’s king of the hill, top of the heap.
Results and payouts from the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes on June 11, 2022, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., won by Mo Donegal.
Belmont Stakes picks and analysis from Daily Racing Form handicappers across the United States.
The demanding 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont Stakes calls on a Thoroughbred to use everything they are built upon – and that includes pedigree. This year’s cast appears particularly well-suited to the task.
Sonny Leon was already riding high when he went postward in his first Kentucky Derby last month aboard longshot Rich Strike. The jockey, who was seeking his first graded stakes victory in the classic, was coming off a career-best season in 2021.
Rich Strike wasn't even on anyone's radar heading into the Kentucky Derby because his chances of even getting into the race seemed unlikely. Even once in the race, his chances still seemed remote, hence his 80-1 price. But now all eyes are on Rich Strike heading into the Belmont Stakes on Saturday for one simple reason, to see if his Derby win was a fluke, or a preview of coming attractions.
One could use three four-letter words to best describe the training session for Belmont Stakes horses here Thursday. Rain. Slop. Gate.
For owner Rick Dawson, winning the Kentucky Derby was an out-of-this-world experience. “What planet is this?” Dawson said. “I feel like I have been propelled somewhere.”
