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In 2007, Curlin lost by a header in the Belmont Stakes to Rags to Riches, who became the first filly to win The Third Jewel of the Triple Crown in 102 years. Fifteen years later, a Curlin mother will be looking to finish a spot higher than her father at the 2022 Belmont Stakes. This filly, Nest, will be looking to join Rags to Riches as the fourth female horse to win The Run for the Carnations. The 2022 Belmont Stakes will be Nest’s first race against the boys, and she finished second her last time at the Kentucky Oaks. The 154th round of the Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday at 18:44 ET post time from Belmont Park. Nest has pulled the No. 3 position and is 8-1 in the odds. The favorites in the latest 2022 Belmont Stakes odds are We the People (2-1), Mo Donegal (5-2) and Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (7-2). Before you hit Belmont Stakes picks for 2022, you need to check out what legendary handicapper Hammerin’ Hank Goldberg has to say.
Former horse racing analyst for ESPN and NBC, Goldberg became a legendary handicapper by going straight to the source. In 2004, before the Belmont Stakes, he had dinner with trainer Nick Zito at a pizza joint in Queens. The dinner saw Goldberg play against Zito’s 36-1 monster long shot Birdstone to win, and on top of his exacta, trifecta, and superfecta bets. When Birdstone shocked the world, Goldberg won $24,000.
His success continues at SportsLine. At the March 2020 San Felipe Stakes, Hammer dealt a $20 exacta that paid 9-1. At the 2020 Belmont Stakes, Goldberg was right there with Tiz the Law, who clinched a convincing win in the first Triple Crown race of the year. Hammer also nailed the Exacta in the Blue Grass Stakes, Haskell Stakes, and Pacific Classic that year.
Last year he won the Essential Quality Hot Rod Charlie Exacta in the Belmont Stakes. And three weeks ago he pinned early voting epicenter Exacta in the Preakness Stakes. Anyone who has followed him in these races is way up there.
Now he’s turned his attention to the 2022 Belmont Stakes field, made his picks and made his bets. Go to SportsLine to see them.
2022 Belmont Stakes Expert Predictions
A surprise: Goldberg completely outperforms We the People 2-1 despite being the favorite on the morning line. We the people have only had one Graded Stakes victory and that came at the Grade III Peter Pan Stakes last month. However, this race did not have the strongest field. In fact, there was only one other horse that will compete in one of the Triple Crown races this year. And that horse—Golden Glider—is the longest shot at the Belmont.
Hammer also notes that the Peter Pan had a sealed track, which helped We the People given his pacemaker running style. He is unlikely to see those track conditions again at Belmont, nullifying his greatest strength. Goldberg is fading as a favorite and doesn’t even have We the People in the money.
“I don’t think he’s as good as his Peter Pan win suggests,” Goldberg told SportsLine. “This race was run on a sealed, sloppy track and those tracks very often help the horses win from gate to finish, which he did.”
How to create 2022 Belmont Stakes picks
Hammer’s top pick is a long shot that is “great” and “perfect for his jockey”. Goldberg is including this horse in his 2022 Belmont Stakes bets, and so should you. He only tells SportsLine which horses he should bet on.
So which long shot will win the 2022 Belmont Stakes? And how did Hammer design its inserts? Check out the latest Belmont Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine for Hammer’s Belmont Stakes picks.
