2022 Belmont Stakes Odds, Picks, Betting Analysis: Rich Strike
Can Rich Strike strike big again? That’s the biggest question entering the 2022 Belmont Stakes.
After shocking the horse racing world by winning the Kentucky Derby as a massive 80-1 underdog, Rich Strike sat out the 2022 Preakness Stakes to prepare for Belmont Park’s weekend race. The Derby winner won’t be as much of a long shot this time around, so is there still value on him to win the third and final leg of the Triple Crown?
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Rich Strike Betting Information
- Owner: Richard Dawson
- Trainer: Eric R. Reed
- Jockey: Sonny Leon
- Past results: Two wins in eight starts, first place in Kentucky Derby
- Post position: 4th
Only those who don’t pay much attention to horse racing haven’t heard about Rich Strike’s Kentucky Derby win by now. As someone at Churchill Downs that day, I hadn’t seen a crowd so shocked and amazed in any sport in a long time.
Rich Strike will now come to Belmont looking to become the first horse since 1995 to win the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in the same cycle. He’ll attempt to do it against a smaller field of just eight horses after Ethereal Road was scratched from the race with a crack in his right front hoof. Preakness winner Early Voting also won’t participate in the Belmont Stakes to rest up for the summer.
But Rich Strike is no longer an unknown. In fact, he’s a household name in the horse racing community. Not only that, he’s one of the favorites with 9-2 odds to begin the week. The situation is entirely different for Rich Strike and his team. After being a happy-go-lucky late entry in Louisville, they come to Elmont with actual expectations.
Betting Preview and Prediction
Rich Strike has hit the board in five of his eight starts. And after his Kentucky Derby performance, he will surely be a favorite among public bettors as the week goes on. His closing ability certainly gives him validity at the Belmont, which is a quarter of a mile longer than the Kentucky Derby.
The other question will be whether the layoff serves as an advantage for Rich Strike. Some of his best efforts have come after roughly a month of rest, which is worth noting.
The post position doesn’t matter quite as much in a smaller field, but especially for Rich Strike. In the Derby, Rich Strike started on the outside before moving toward the middle and then riding along the rail as he charged to the front of the pack. Sitting in the fourth post, jockey Leon likely won’t have to do as much weaving in and out of traffic.
Rich Strike is a horse I’ll include in my exotic tickets. However, I’m concerned he’ll close at an unappealing number, given his newfound prominence. He’s certainly capable of winning, but I worry his odds will be too much of an overreaction. A month ago, this horse was 80-1 to win the Kentucky Derby.
And check out our previews for the top horses of the 2022 Belmont Stakes:
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