Updated 2022 Belmont Stakes Day Betting Odds, Picks, Predictions: Our Staff’s Best Bets, Including Exactas, Trifectas, Longshots & Undercard Wagers

Updated 2022 Belmont Stakes Odds

*As of 6:10 p.m. ET

The 2022 Triple Crown season in thoroughbred horse racing comes to a bittersweet close Saturday, with the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes taking place at Elmont, N.Y.

On deck at Belmont Park is a stellar 13-race card, with the Belmont Stakes being the spotlight event on the docket. There are nine stakes races taking place, giving us plenty of chances to connect on some winners.

The Belmont, which is the third and final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, will feature eight of the top 3-year-old horses in the world going 1 1/2 miles on the massive dirt track. Post time is set for 6:44 p.m. ET, with NBC providing the TV coverage starting at 5 p.m. ET for the featured race.

Earlier races on the highly anticipated Belmont Stakes Day card will air on Fox Sports 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, then switch to CNBC from to 3-5 p.m. ET for more coverage. You can also stream the races on NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app and Peacock Premium.

Action Network handicappers Jeremy Pond, Sean Zerillo and Mike Conti have delivered their top picks tied to the Belmont Stakes and undercard.

That said, let's take a look at which horses and wagers our crew has targeted with an array of intriguing bets.

2022 Belmont Stakes Day Best Bets

Jeremy Pond

Belmont Stakes Winner

No. 6 Mo Donegal (5-2) is my top choice for the Belmont Stakes.

He was downright impressive en route to winning the Wood Memorial, nipping Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting late to punch his Derby ticket. The No. 1 post-position draw was tough on the Todd Pletcher charge, but the trainer and connections had to be pleased with his fifth-place effort.

Now, Mo Donegal enters the Belmont ultra-fresh and could be sitting on a monster race. His connections did the right thing skipping the Derby and targeting the Belmont, knowing the distance won't be a problem for him and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. when they enter the starting gate.

I fully expect Mo Donegal to sit right off We the People and anyone else that might go with him, then pounce as they hit the top of stretch. Play him across the board via Win, Place and Show wagering, as well as on your exotic tickets.

Belmont Stakes Live Long Shot

No. 8 Barber Road (10-1) has become somewhat of a fan favorite in the Action Network circle of racing lovers. The hard-trying colt has been a cash cow during his busy career, finishing in the money seven times in nine starts.

He was a game sixth in the Kentucky Derby despite being pushed out wide as they hit the Churchill Downs stretch, finishing just behind Mo Donegal on that historic day when longshot Rich Strike shocked the world with his victory.

In terms of value, you're not going to get anything better than what's being offered on Barber Road, especially in comparison to favorite We the People. And all you have to do is go back and watch the Arkansas Derby, where both horses competed in the nine-horse Derby prep event.

We the People, who went off as the favorite, was awful that day at Oaklawn Park during his seventh-place effort. In contrast, Barber Road finished runner-up to Cyberknife and just ahead of Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath. And Barber Road was so much stronger than We the People, finishing a whopping 13-plus lengths ahead of him.

Bottom line, if things fall apart up front during the Belmont, don't be surprised if Barber Road picks up the pieces late and pulls off the upset.

Additional Contenders for Exotic Wagering

• No. 1 We the People (2-1)
• No. 3 Nest (8-1)
• No. 5 Creative Minister (6-1)

Pond's Belmont Exotic Wagers, Other Bets

Exacta: 1-6-8 over 1-3-4-5-6-8

Trifecta Box: 1-3-5-6-8

Daily Double (Races 10-11)

2-4-6-8-9-10 | 1-3-6-8

Pick 4 (Races 8-11)

4-5-12-13 | 1-2 | 2-4-6-8-9-10 | 1-3-6-8

Sean Zerillo

Belmont Stakes Winner

I expect No. 1 We The People (2-1) to get loose on the lead in the Belmont Stakes, as he faces as field filled with closers. And contrary to popular belief, the 1 1/2-mile distance in the "Test of the Champion" doesn't benefit late runners.

Bottom line, I don't see any other horse in the field who has the early speed to keep up with We the People, and Belmont Stakes winners are typically on or near the lead as the field turns for home.

The main question mark is the legitimacy of his dominant effort in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes, where he romped over a wet track. Runners who excel on wet surfaces tend to run well on the extra deep dirt surface at "Big Sandy," so I do think he can repeat that effort with a relatively similar pace setup.

On top of that, the second question is whether We the People will stay for the 12 furlongs and carry his speed around the track.

If he does, I think he's going to win the race. If nobody goes with We the People early, they'll have to hope he fades during the stretch run.

I'm using We the People as my lone "A" selection and will single him on several tickets. However, I'll also use No. 5 Creative Minister (6-1) and No. 6 Mo Donegal (5-2) as "B" selections on my Pick 5 or Pick 6 tickets.

Zerillo's Belmont Trifecta Wager: 1 | 3-5-6-8 | 3-5-6-8

Undercard Top Pick

Race No. 9 — Metropolitan Handicap aka Met Mile

I'll be building my multi-race wagers around No. 9 Flightline (3-5), the favorite in the Metropolitan Handicap, who might go off at 1/5 or 1/9 odds at post time.

Betting Flightline at a short price goes against several principles as a handicapper. I rarely bet on horses doing something for the first time, let alone undertaking multiple firsts at once.

This is Flightline's first time shipping out of California or running on the Belmont surface. It's also his first time running more than seven furlongs and he's coming back from a long layoff to boot.

Still, Flightline is a special horse and potentially an all-time great. He's buried talented fields, and if he runs his best race, he should bury this one as well.

And while Flightline hasn't run the mile distance to this point, he is bred for 1 1/4 miles and is likely targeting the Breeders' Cup classic at year's end. The way he has finished up and galloped out at the end of his sprints suggests a one-turn mile race shouldn't be an issue.

The best way to find value on big favorites is to single them in multi-race wagers. And there are several deserving favorites on this Belmont card.

While I'll be using Flightline as a single on multiple tickets (Pick 4, Pick 5, Pick 4, etc.), I'm also going to single him alongside my top choice in the Belmont Stakes to close out the day with a late Pick 3 wager.

While I might trim down this ticket, I'm happy to use up to seven horses in Race 10 (the Manhattan Stakes) in between singles on Flightline and We the People from their respective races.

Zerillo's Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11): 1 | 2-4-6-7-8-9-10 | 1

Mike Conti

Belmont Stakes Winner

No. 6 Mo Donegal (5-2) was extremely wide in the stretch in the Kentucky Derby. He won’t have that issue in this event since there are only eight horses in the race.

Mo Donegal one of only three horses to win over this Belmont track and bred to get the distance. In addition, he’s paired his last two Beyer Speed figures, which means he’s ready to pop an all-time best, which would beat this field.

Belmont Stakes Contenders

No. 3 Nest (8-1) is the only filly in the field. She’s coming off a second in the Kentucky Oaks last time out, which was over a fast, wet track. She’s another contender who has a win over the track and is bred for the distance.

While fillies face a tall task any time they face the boys, it’s also difficult — for whatever reason — for the boys to pass a filly when she’s in front. Without much pace here, she should get the first jump sitting just off the pace of the deep closers. And if that happens, look for her to cross the wire in front at a nice price.

No. 1 We the People (2-1) is the pace of the race in an event that doesn’t have much pace. If he’s able to get an uncontested, easy lead, he could take this field gate to wire. Regardless, he appears to be in contention late and should figure in the exotics.

Conti's Belmont Bets: Win — No. 6 Mo Donegal (5-2)

Exacta Box: 1 | 3 | 6

Highlighted Undercard Picks

Race No. 7 — Ogden Phipps Stakes

No. 1 Letruska (6-5) has won 19 of 25 starts. She should dominate in this five-horse field. Letruska has won both starts of her 6-year-old campaign and there doesn't appear to be much pace pressure for her in this race. Similar to Jackie’s Warrior on Friday, she should easily win this race.

Conti's Odgen Phipps Bets: Win — No. 1  Letruska (6-5)

Pick 5 (Races 7-8-9-10-11):  1 | 4-5-11-13 | 2-4 | 2-9 | 1-3-6

Race 8 — Jaipur Stakes

No. 5 Arrest Me Red (5-2) was our top pick on Derby Day in the Turf Spring and was able to get the job done. Similarly, he’s the top pick here and has won four of his last five starts. He’s a perfect 3 for 3 at the distance and a 1 for 1 over this turf course.

Arrest Me Red also has one of the best Beyer Speed figures last time out. He should relish the additional half furlong and win going away.

Conti's Jaipur Bets: Win — No. 5 Arrest Me Red

Daily Double (Races 8 & 9): 4-5-11-13 | 2-4

Updated 2022 Belmont Stakes Odds