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Before last year’s Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert told Goldberg that Authentic was his best Derby runner. As a result, Goldberg listed him among his top horses, and Authentic held off Tiz the Law by almost four lengths. Anyone who has followed Goldberg’s lead is way up.
Now, Goldberg has studied the 2021 Belmont Stakes horses and released his analysis on several top contenders only at SportsLine.
Top 2021 Belmont Stakes predictions
For the 153rd Run for the Carnations, we can tell you Goldberg is fading Essential Quality, even though he is favorite at 7-2 in the Belmont Stakes 2021 odds. The son of Tapit by Delightful Quality earned his status as the favorite by going undefeated in the run up to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Breeders’ Futurity and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as a two-year-old before winning the Southwest Stakes and the Blue Grass Stakes in his three-year-old season.
He wound up getting bumped out of the gate at the Kentucky Derby by Rock Your World, but that didn’t stop jockey Luis Saez from getting him into a solid stalking position. Unfortunately, he just didn’t have the speed to chase down Medina Spirit, stablemate Mandaloun and Hot Rod Charlie, finishing fourth. Having made six starts against high-quality competition already, Goldberg thinks fatigue may be a factor for Essential Quality at the Belmont Stakes 2021.
Instead, Hammer’s top choice is a horse “coming off his best couple races.” This horse has a key x-factor working in his favor at the Belmont. He’s sharing his predictions for the top 2021 Belmont Stakes contenders here.
So who wins the 2021 Belmont Stakes? Which surprising horse is a must-back? Check out the latest 2021 Belmont odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Goldberg’s picks for the 2021 Belmont Stakes.
2021 Belmont Stakes contenders, odds
Essential Quality 7-2
Hot Rod Charlie 9-2
Rombauer 5-1
Rock Your World 6-1
Known Agenda 9-1
Rebel’s Romance 11-1
Promise Keeper 15-1
Keepmeinmind 20-1
Bourbonic 26-1
France Go de Ina 28-1
Overtook 30-1
2021 Belmont Stakes
| Belmont Stakes | |
| Grade I stakes race | |
 “The Test of the Champion”
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| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Date | June 5, 2021 |
| Distance | 1+1⁄2 mi (12 furlongs; 2,414 m) |
| Surface | Dirt |
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The 2021 Belmont Stakes will be the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes and the 110th time the event takes place at Belmont Park. The 1+1⁄2-mile (2,400 m) race, known as the “test of the champion”, is the final leg in the American Triple Crown, open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
The race is scheduled for June 5, 2021, in Elmont, New York, with a 6:47 p.m. EDT post time and television coverage by NBC. It will be a Grade I stakes race with a purse of $1.5 million. There will be no Triple Crown winner, as the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes were won by different horses.
