Belmont Stakes odds, contenders, lineup 2018: Horse racing legend makes picks for Justify Triple Crown bid
The 2018 Belmont Stakes will be held Saturday, June 9 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Justify, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, is the favorite in the latest Belmont Stakes odds at 4-5 as he looks to become just the second horse since 1978 to win horse racing's Triple Crown. Hofburg, going off at 4-1, and Bravazo, a horse getting 8-1 odds, are the top challengers in this historic race.
Before you make any kind of bet or pick on the 2018 Belmont, you need to see what horse racing legend Hammerin' Hank Goldberg has to say. In 2004, if you had put down $300 on his Belmont Stakes picks, you would have cashed for $21,000.
The reason Goldberg has been so successful: He goes straight to the source. In 2004, he was all over Birdstone as a 36-1 monster long shot to win the Belmont Stakes over the heavily favored Smarty Jones, who was undefeated like Justify. Goldberg had dinner with Birdstone's trainer, Nick Zito, before the Belmont Stakes at a pizzeria in Queens.
"Nick told me Birdstone had been training great," Goldberg said. "He was training off the charts and Nick said the horse would love the Belmont because he had the running style that fit well with the track." The Hammer pounced on the long shot to win and put him on top of his exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets.
Birdstone, of course, beat Smarty Jones by one length in one of the most thrilling Triple Crown races ever. Royal Assault -- almost a 30-1 long shot on the Belmont Stakes odds board and also trained by Zito -- finished third, giving the Hammer and his followers monster payouts. Now, he's gearing up for the 2018 Belmont Stakes.
A legendary prognosticator and current CBS Sports expert, Goldberg couldn't have been more dead-on about the 2018 Kentucky Derby. He picked Justify to win, saying he excelled in the slop. The result: Justify sloshed to victory over Good Magic in the rain and mud by two-and-a-half lengths.
Then, he called Justify repeating at the Preakness despite an injured heel and sloppy conditions -- which is exactly what happened. He also cashed the Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 at Pimlico this year.
Now that the 2018 Belmont Stakes lineup is taking shape, Goldberg released his early picks, predictions and exotic bets over at SportsLine.
We can tell you Goldberg thinks Justify will be a tired horse as he pursues horse racing's Triple Crown as the Belmont Stakes favorite.
"The Preakness took a lot out of Justify," Goldberg told SportsLine. "He was never pushed like he was in that race. His first race was Feb. 18 and he's going to have considerable competition in the Belmont Stakes, much more than he faced in the Preakness." Goldberg is sharing his projected finish position for Justify over at SportsLine.
A contender he's impressed with: Hofburg, a horse going off at 4-1 in the updated 2018 Belmont Stakes odds.
"Trained by Billy Mott, he's a really good horse," Goldberg told SportsLine. "I thought he'd run well in the Kentucky Derby. He was a wise-guy horse in the Derby. Mott was eyeing him for the Belmont Stakes and he's been training for that. He has the edge in distance. Mott will have this horse ready."
Goldberg is also eyeing a long shot who has a big edge in distance, which is exactly what's needed in the Belmont Stakes 2018. He's sharing which horse it is, and his predictions for every Belmont Stakes contender, over at SportsLine.
So what are Hammerin' Hank Goldberg's 2018 Belmont picks? Where does Justify finish? And what long shot should you back? Check out the early Belmont Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Goldberg's picks for the Belmont.
Justify (4-5)
Hofburg (4-1)
Bravazo (8-1)
Vino Rosso (9-1)
Tenfold (10-1)
Blended Citizen (14-1)
Noble Indy (33-1)
Free Drop Billy (50-1)
Gronkowski (69-1)