The Saratoga Race Course is set to host the illustrious 2025 Belmont Stakes. Most would agree that landing a substantial betting ticket could be challenging if the oddsmakers have predicted the race accurately. This can be tightly linked to the presence of two preeminent favorites in the forefront of the betting odds. In the contest, the No. 7 horse Journalism (with odds of 8-5) and No. 2 horse Sovereignty (odds: 2-1) are almost in a tight tie as the main contenders for the winning title.
The combined odds predict that either of these horses has a 72% chance of stealing the show. However, this implies a tricky situation for those seeking a high-payout yet risk-averse bet such as a Pick 6. Due to the overwhelming favor towards the frontrunning horses, extracting a substantial win from this race by merely selecting the favorites might not be feasible.
That being said, a few dark horses in this race may have the potential to overshadow the favorites and land a surprising win. Let’s shift our focus towards a couple of these underdogs that may have a chance to snatch the title, thus providing a potentially lucrative payout for risk-takers willing to bet against the crowd.
When considering the possible strong participants, No. 1 Hill Road (10-1) comes up as a not-so-little contender. One of the unique highlight characteristics of Sovereignty is its capability to make a substantial last-minute push towards the finish line. However, Hill Road shares this attribute and might present an unexpected surprise.
Despite not being in the same league as Sovereignty, if you are of the opinion that the last sprinters will dominate the contest, it could be a wise move to keep Hill Road on your betting list. This is particularly true considering the possibility that these odds might inflate as the race draws closer, and the primary bets amass on the two favorites.
One of the others that could potentially shake up the race is No. 5 Crudo, with odds of 15-1. This horse is one of a pair that will rashly aim to gain an early lead in the race. Despite being a wildcard for the exotics, Crudo poses an enthralling prospect even as a long shot for conquering the ultimate prize.
With only three racing starts under his belt, Crudo is relatively new to the scene. Regardless, he comes off a successful streak with two consecutive wins, the most recent one being an impressive win at the Sir Barton Stakes. That performance was crucial enough to motivate his team to enroll him in the imminent Belmont Stakes contest.
The winning strategy for Crudo here would be to repeat his exceptional performance as witnessed in the Sir Barton race. Although replicating that accomplishment seems a formidable task against such high-level contenders. Regardless, there remains the potential that we are yet to witness the peak of this horse’s abilities which, if proven true, might hold Crudo in good stead if his performance remains consistent with his recent winning streak.