Expert Pick of the Week: Belmont Stakes 2023

Jun 07, 2023 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A superb field of nine sophomores will travel 1 1/2 miles over Big Sandy in Saturday’s
155th running of the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1). The feature on a star-studded day of
action will challenge the class and stamina of each of the contenders in the Test of the
Champion, and the contest promises to be a stellar one with numerous legitimate win
threats in the event.

Conditioner Todd Pletcher, who has saddled the winner of the grueling Belmont on four
occasions, will be responsible for the two morning-line choices in the race, including
Blue Grass S. (G1) victor Tapit Trice. Bred in Kentucky, the well-bred colt brought a
hefty $1.3 million as a yearling at auction and has looked well worth the investment to
this stage of his development. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Tapit Trice graduated in his second assignment as a juvenile and commenced 2023
with a dominant, eight-length allowance victory at Gulfstream Park. A late-running tally
in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) followed, which preceded his signature score when he
gamely annexed the Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 8.

The colt was last seen finishing
a non-threatening seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his latest endeavor, but both
his pedigree and running style seem better suited to the conditions that he will
encounter on Saturday. The gray colt has been pointed towards this storied contest since early May, and he has posted a trio of solid morning moves in advance of his local debut. Regular pilot Luis
Saez will guide the stout three-year-old and will slowly pass horses on the backside, prior to
going clear inside the final furlong.

Preakness S. (G1) hero National Treasure has never run a bad race and has a lot of
room for improvement while making just his third appearance since January. The Bob
Baffert pupil was a dual Grade-1 placed juvenile who finished fourth in the Santa Anita
Derby (G1) two back, and I expect him to move forward at Belmont Park. The Quality Road
colt possesses early zip as well as a high cruising speed, and his style seems perfectly
suited to this race. The $500,000 yearling purchase is training in fine fashion in advance
of the tilt and will have the services of John Velazquez in the stirrups, who has won the
race on a pair of occasions in the past.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #2 Tapit Trice on top of #4 National Treasure in the 2023 Belmont
Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.