Belmont Stakes 2014 Betting Guide: Expert Picks, How To Bet Online

The 2014 Belmont Stakes is on the way, and fans looking to make the already historic race a little more interesting can have a little expert help with their betting picks, as well as a legal outlet to bet online.

The third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown is likely to be a dramatic affair, with California Chrome looking to finish out his resounding victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness to become the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years.

Those looking to bet on the 2014 Belmont Stakes would be wise to take a close look at California Chrome again this time around. The horse was a big favorite in the first two big races and delivered, and is again coming in as the betting choice. As of Friday, the horse was offering 3-5 odds, and while that may not mean a big payday, it does seem like a safe bet.

“I feel better about this race than I have any other race, to be honest with you, just looking at the horse and saying, ‘Wow.’ I see how far he’s advanced,” Art Sherman, California Chrome’s 77-year-old trainer, told NYRA.com. “I know it’ll be tougher going a mile and a half, but this horse is a good horse. I think he’s the real McCoy. They better worry about me, I can tell you that.”

Though Sherman and the oddsmakers may have confidence in California Chrome, history would indicate that another horse will win. Seven of the last 13 runnings of the Belmont Stakes have been won by a horse that lost the Kentucky Derby and then skipped the Preakness.

There are four horses in the 2014 Belmont Stakes that fit that mold — Commanding Curve (second in the Derby), Wicked Strong (fourth); Samraat (fifth); and Medal Count (eighth).

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said these horses do particularly well:

“Probably the biggest factor in your favor is you get to train your horse into the Belmont, as opposed to tweaking or adjusting or fine-tuning, whatever you want to call it. You get back into the kind of rhythm you’d like to have going into any other race.”

For fans who need a bit more of a refresher on how to bet on the 2014 Belmont Stakes, the track’s own site provides a full tutorial on how to bet and some examples of easier bets.

Those who want to bet on the 2014 Belmont Stakes online can click here for the official betting partner of the track, which accepts bets both online and even via mobile devices. Full odds for the Belmont Stakes can be found here.

[Image Via Vancouversun.com]