Horse Races to Bet This Week: Belmont Stakes Heats Up Saratoga

Belmont Stakes Leads Stacked Saratoga Race Week

A stunning weekend of horse racing action is set for Saratoga between Thursday and Sunday, with 14 graded races forming the cards in New York. However, one of the top horse races to bet this week will be the final leg of the Triple Crown, with the Belmont Stakes being run at the Spa. But, what are some of the standout selections on a stacked week to handicap horse races.

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Belmont StakesQ

It would be challenging to start anywhere else other than the Belmont Stakes when assessing the best horse races to bet this week. Saratoga takes center stage for the Triple Crown finale this year! Horses will face a slightly shorter distance when they battle it out at the Spa.

The betting lines haven’t dropped, but the buzz is that Sierra Leone will be a massive favorite against Chad Brown. The three-year-old was second in the Kentucky Derby, and he could once again come up against the winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown in the form of Mystik Dan.

Seize The Grey was a commanding winner of the Preakness Stakes last month for D. Wayne Lukas, but he is unlikely to get as easy of a ride at the front of the pack. Antiquarian could be one of the most interesting runners in the race for Todd Pletcher after storming to success in the G3 Peter Pan Stakes on his previous start, which was the same prep race won by Arcangelo in 2023.

Acorn Stakes

The spotlight shifts to the fillies before the Belmont Stakes! The prestigious G1 Acorn Stakes takes center stage this Friday. It is a leg of the US Triple Tiara, with the field competing over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.

Thorpedo Anna will be an incredibly popular selection for the Kenneth McPeek team this week after dazzling when landing back-to-back wins already this year. Her victory in the G1 Kentucky Oaks last month was a career-defining performance, and she’ll be a formidable contender if she replicates that form at Saratoga.

Just F Y I remains a hugely talented rival for the William Mott yard and she bounced back to somewhere near her best when second in the G1 Kentucky Oaks. The three-year-old also has previous winning experience at Saratoga after breaking her maiden at the track.

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New York Stakes

A talented field will go to post for the G1 New York Stakes on Friday, meaning it ranks among the best horse races to bet this week with attractive horse racing odds. Horses will battle it out on the turf course for a total distance of 1 3/16 miles in this race, with a hefty $750,000 purse on the line.

War Like Goddess will be a popular selection on her return to action for the William Mott team, but she could be vulnerable against some unexposed rivals this weekend. Chad Brown has trained the winner of this race in four of the last six editions, and McKulick has always shown promise on track, making her hard to dismiss.

However, there are two very interesting European raiders that could be hard to beat. English Rose will be the runner for Charlie Appleby, and she should come on from her second in the G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes in April. But, the slight preference is for Joseph O’Brien’s American Sonja, who will be the ride of Frankie Dettori. The four-year-old was very impressive on her return to action when winning over a mile and two in France to land the G3 Prix Allez France, and any improvement this weekend would make her the value in the market.