The 156th edition of the Belmont Stakes gets underway on Saturday June 8, 2024. Due to construction at Belmont Park, the "Run for the Carnations" will take place at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

A top-tier field enters the race, with both the Kentucky Derby winner, Mystik Dan, and Preakness victor, Seize the Grey, set to battle once again. The third leg of the Triple Crown seems destined to be more exciting than ever. With this year's race run at 1 1/4 miles, rather than the tradition 1 1/2, speed out of the gate will be more important than ever. The record $2-million purse has raised the stakes for all. So who will win the 2024 Belmont Stakes?

Dive into my Belmont Stakes best bets and analysis below.

When is the Belmont Stakes?

The 2024 Belmont Stakes post time is 6:50 pm ET on Saturday, June 8.

2024 Belmont Stakes Odds

We're just over a week away from the Run for the Carnations. While odds are likely to change as gate numbers are posted, this looks like the field to race in the 2024 Belmont.

Belmont Stakes Picks & Best Bets

Can anyone upset Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone to win the 2024 Belmont Stakes? Keep in mind, no Triple Crown race has been won by the favorite this season. However, Essential Quality (2021), Tiz the Law (2020), and Justify (2018), cleaned up as favorites at Belmont in recent years. That being said, Arcangelo took home the carnations as an 8-1 underdog in 2023. On top of that, no Triple Crown race has been won by the same horse over the past five seasons.

Check out our how to bet the Belmont Stakes article for more!

Dornoch

At +1200 odds, there are far worse plays on the board than Dornoch. He came tenth in the Kentucky Derby after a bad trip and sat out of the Preakness.

It’s important to note, in the last 28 years 70% of Belmont winners have run in the Kentucky Derby, while 75% have skipped the Preakness altogether.

Over the last 30 Belmont Races, 50% of winners have finished outside of the money at the Kentucky Derby, and either passed on running in the Preakness, or finished in the money.

That’s exactly where our friend Dornoch falls folks. He defeated Belmont favorite Sierra Leone by a nose in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in November, and has the pedigree to hang with the big boys at Saratoga. I’m throwing a win, place, show bet on Dornoch. Should Catching Freedom enter the race, he also fits this trend and would be my top value bet.

2024 Belmont Best Bet: Dornoch +1200, Win, Place, Show

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone lost the Kentucky Derby by a nose, but was forced to take an awful path in that race.

The colt began the race at the very back of the field, and had to work his way to the front, while being pulled wide to avoid the pack down the stretch. He should get a much easier run in the Belmont, with a shorter field, and shorter distance. There are a lot of reasons to like Sierra Leone in this race. He won the Blue Grass Stakes with a 107 Equibase Speed Figure and is an excellent bet to win this race, even as the favorite.

2024 Belmont Best Bet: Sierra Leone +175, Win, Place, Show

Exotics

Horse racing exotics are a fun bet that can pay huge dividends for a small wager.

My four to include in boxed exactas and trifectas are: