Early 2020 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds

The Belmont Stakes will be held at Belmont Park on June 20. (Photo credit: © Wingbeats551 | Dreamstime.com )

Despite a worldwide pandemic that has shut down the majority of sports, the countdown to the Triple Crown can officially commence with the announcement that the $1 million Belmont Stakes (G1) will be run on Saturday, June 20.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has the two early favorites in early Belmont Stakes betting at Jazz Sports with Charlatan and Nadal.

The Belmont Stakes has been shortened from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/8 miles, which at Belmont Park is around one turn. The race becomes part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with 150-60-30-15 points up for grabs for the top four finishers toward entry into the Run for the Roses.

The Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, Sept. 5 and the Preakness Stakes (G1) will now close out the Triple Crown, the race being held at Pimlico on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The gap between the Derby and Preakness goes from two weeks to four, then it will be five weeks until the Breeders’ Cup.

Baffert Has Top Two Favorites

With just a month to go before the new first jewel of the Triple Crown, the undefeated Baffert trained Charlatan is the early betting favorite at Jazz Sports at +350.

The colt is perfect in three starts, winning one division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park on May 2.

His stablemate Nadal won the faster division of the Arkansas Derby, is also undefeated and is the second choice in early Belmont Stakes wagering at +450.

Baffert stated yesterday that at least one of the two would head to New York for the Belmont Stakes, and possibly both.

Charlatan Wins Arkansas Derby

The Hall of Fame trainer also has Authentic in his barn. The colt is undefeated in three starts, winning the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita on March 8 in his last outing. The colt is listed at +1300 at Jazz Sports in early Belmont Stakes betting.

Tiz the Law is pointing toward the Belmont Stakes for New York based trainer Barclay Tagg, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2003 with Funny Cide.

The colt won the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on March 28 in his last start, his fourth win in five career starts. The colt is the current third choice in early Belmont Stakes wagering at +600.

Ete Indien has been taking some early action, currently listed at +8500. The colt won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and ran third in the Florida Derby.