Sports betting: Rich Strike tries for another upset at Belmont

The 154th running of the Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday in Elmont, N.Y., with Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike returning after sitting out the Preakness.

At 80-1, Rich Strike was the second-biggest long shot winner in the history of the Kentucky Derby. Although he didn’t run in the Preakness, there was a Rich Strike effect. Fenwick opened at 50-1 and bettors hoping long shot lightning would “strike” again, bet the horse down to about 11-1 by post time. Fenwick is just crossing the finish line at Pimlico now (he came in last).

For the Belmont Stakes, We the People is the 2-1 morning-line favorite. He last raced on May 14 at the Peter Pan Stakes and led the whole way en route to a double-digit-length win.

Mo Donegal (7-2) finished fifth at the Derby and has had some success at Belmont Park, breaking his maiden in his second career start.

Nest (8-1) is the first filly to run in the Belmont Stakes since 2013. She finished second in the Kentucky Oaks and has a strong Belmont pedigree. Nest is the daughter of Curlin, who was an even-money favorite that lost by a head at the Belmont Stakes in 2007. Curlin sired Palace Malice, who won the Belmont Stakes in 2013. Nest’s damsire is 1992 Belmont winner A.P. Indy.

“She’s got the best breeding for the race. The big question is if she is good enough,” said Jay Privman, national correspondent at the Daily Racing Form.

Despite his impressive Derby win, Rich Strike (7-2) is not the morning-line favorite, which might have surprised some casual fans.

“It would be extremely unusual for a horse that is the longest shot in the race to be the favorite in his next race,” Privman said. “It just doesn’t happen. There is still a little bit of skepticism over whether the Derby is a true barometer of what he can do or just a fluke performance.”

In five races before the Derby, Rich Strike never finished better than third. He will have to prove he has what it takes over the 1½-mile “test of champions.”

“It’s such a rare distance for these horses to run at any point in their career,” Privman said. “It’s unlikely they will ever run this far again. It’s a guessing game about who will enjoy it or who will find it out of their range.”

Distance: 1½ mile

Post time: Saturday at 6:44 p.m.

Purse: $1.5 million. $800,000 going to the winner

1. We the People (2/1)

Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset

Jockey: Flavien Prat

2. Skippylongstocking (20/1)

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Jockey: Manuel Franco.

3. Nest (8/1)

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: José Ortiz

4. Rich Strike (7/2)

Trainer: Eric Reed

Jockey: Sonny Leon

5. Creative Minister (6/1)

Trainer: Ken McPeek

Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

6. Mo Donegal (7/2)

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

7. Golden Glider (20/1)

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Dylan Davis

8. Barber Road (10/1)

Trainer: John Ortiz

Jockey: Joel Rosario

In Pennsylvania, you can bet on horse racing at TVG and TwinSpires. New Jersey only has TVG as an online option for now. However, by the time the next Triple Crown season comes around that could be different. TVG’s contract, which makes it the lone online partimutual operator in New Jersey, ends in 2023.

If you want to place Belmont Stakes bets in person, here’s where to go in the area:

Casinos: Harrah’s Casino Philadelphia, Hollywood Casino Morgantown, Pa., Parx Casino, Borgata Race and Sportsbook

Off-track-betting: South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook, Parx Casino’s Race and Sportsbook inside Chickie’s & Pete’s in Malvern

The Belmont Stakes closes out the Triple Crown season, but there is still plenty of horse racing the rest of the year.

Katie Kohler is the managing editor at Play Pennsylvania where she writes about sports betting and casinos.