2022 Belmont Stakes Recap

The Belmont Stakes is the third jewel in the famous Triple Crown racing series. It was clear that there would be no Triple Crown winner in 2022 after two different horses won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. This 2022 Belmont Stakes recap will show how the race unfolded and which horse took home the Belmont trophy.

The Test of the Champion – Triple Crown

The 2022 running of the Belmont Stakes took place on June 11, 2022 at Belmont Park in New York. This is the traditional location and timing of the race. 2022 was the 154^th running of the event. It is the final race in the Triple Crown series which also includes the Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby.

The race was broadcast on national television as it is each year. In years where the Triple Crown is not on the line, interest in the Belmont Stakes can wane. The 2022 race followed the traditional Derby–Preakness–Belmont sequence, which had resumed in 2021 after the pandemic changed the order and distance in 2020.

A field of 8 entered the gates at Belmont Park. Perhaps the most popular entrant was Rich Strike. After a longshot win in the Kentucky Derby, Rich Strike was held out of the Preakness Stakes by trainer Eric Reed. The horse returned to try the 1 ½ mile distance of the Belmont Stakes.

Also coming into the race from the Preakness were Creative Minister and Skippylongstocking. The race also included new shooters, or horses that did not compete in either the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness. Some trainers prefer to save their horses and run them fresh in the Belmont due to the grueling nature of the Triple Crown series. Some of these horses have pulled off the upset and beaten horses which had a chance at the Triple Crown.

Here is a look at the horses which competed in the Belmont and their post positions:

Horses and Post Positions for the 2022 Belmont Stakes

• 1 – We the People
• 2 – Skippylongstocking
• 3 – Nest
• 4 – Rich Strike
• 5 – Creative Minister
• 6 – Mo Donegal
• 7 – Golden Glider
• 8 – Barber Road

There was no sign of Triple Crown favorite Epicenter who suffered defeats in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Eyes on Mo Donegal and Mike Repole

Owner Mike Repole has been a constant figure in the Triple Crown series of races for quite a few years. Repole entered two horses in the 2022 Belmont Stakes. Mo Donegal was joined by Nest, a filly. Sometimes the strategy of running two horses can pay off for owners and trainers.

By the time the 2022 Belmont Stakes was over, Mike Repole would have claimed two of the race’s top three spots. Mo Donegal and Nest finished first and second, a successful result for their ownership partnerships and trainer Todd Pletcher; the finish alone does not establish a private tactical plan.

How the 2022 Belmont Stakes Unfolded

We the People broke sharply from post 1 to claim an early lead. The other horses were content to allow We the People to carry the lead throughout a large portion of the race. By the time Mo Donegal and Nest began to make their move, the horses in front were beginning to tire out.

Mo Donegal and Nest took control in the famous long stretch of Belmont Park to finish 1-2 in the race. Skippylongstocking ran third. Rich Strike claimed 6^th place in the race, a different outcome from his Derby victory. The two results should be compared through their pace, distance and trips rather than using one defeat to dismiss the earlier win.

Repole was quoted as saying finishing 1-2 in the Belmont Stakes was the highlight of his racing career. Repole also owned Uncle Mo, a previous contender for the Triple Crown and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Belmont Stakes Betting Patterns Worth Remembering

The 2022 Belmont Stakes reinforced several handicapping principles that experienced bettors apply to the final leg of the Triple Crown every year. The mile and a half distance at Belmont Park is uniquely demanding — longer than any other race in the Triple Crown series — and it consistently exposes horses whose stamina is insufficient for the task, regardless of their quality at shorter distances. Breeding for stamina and demonstrated ability to settle and finish strongly at classic distances are useful research inputs. An actual betting edge requires evidence across races and a price that compensates for uncertainty.

The wide, sweeping turns of Belmont Park also create a different pace dynamic than Churchill Downs or Pimlico. The long run from the far turn to the top of the stretch rewards horses that can make their move early and sustain it, rather than those that rely on a short, sharp burst of speed. A closer’s prospects depend on the actual pace and trip, making pace scenario analysis especially important when constructing exotic tickets. For a full framework on betting the Triple Crown series strategically, see our articles on the Triple Crown explained and Belmont Stakes betting guide for historical context and applicable patterns.

Takeaways From the 2022 Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes always holds a little mysticism and magic for bettors. It is, after all, the race which established Secretariat as perhaps the greatest race horse of all time. There was no such drama in the 2022 Belmont Stakes, but it was an exciting watch anyway.

As a betting event, the Belmont Stakes always presents a number of opportunities. Many bettors like to take a risk on the new shooters in the event. They think this is a good chance to score a longshot win if a favorite is vulnerable.

It was hard to look past Mo Donegal as a legitimate favorite for the race. Nest provided an interesting betting choice as a filly. It is rare to see any filly take the track in opposition to the males in a Triple Crown event.

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