Belmont Stakes Odds 2022: Final Predictions on Latest Vegas Betting Lines

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike headlines a field of eight horses that will be running for a share of the $1.5 million pursue in Elmont, New York.

The longshot Derby winner will make his first appearance since the historic win. 2022 Preakness winner Early Voting is not in the field after his connections opted to focus on the Travers Stakes in August.

Still, there's plenty of talent in the field to challenge Rich Strike.

Fellow Kentucky Derby runner Mo Donegal joins the field, while Preakness runners Creative Minister and Skippylongstocking will attempt to cash in at an American Classic again.

Then there's an intriguing batch of newcomers to this year's Triple Crown series. Early favorite We The People and Todd Pletcher-trained Nest are considered to be factors by the betting markets.

Here's a look at the latest odds and predictions for win, place and show bets.

1. We the People 7-1

2. Skippylongstocking 16-1

3. Nest 4-1

4. Rich Strike 5-2

5. Creative Minister 9-1

6. Mo Donegal 2-1

7. Golden Glider 21-1

8. Barber Road 8-1

Odds via BelmontStakes.com

Mo Donegal enters the Belmont after a letdown performance in the Kentucky Derby. The Todd Pletcher trainee was one of the favorites heading into Churchill Downs but finished fifth.

Now he comes to Elmont as one of the favorites again hoping not to repeat his underwhelming appearance.

But one of the key factors to his showing under the twin spires was the size of the field. With 20 horses racing, Mo Donegal fell all the way to 19th early in the race. The fact he was able to overcome that start and race his way to fifth bodes well.

In the 1½-mile Belmont, he'll only see seven other horses in the field, and he'll have a longer distance to make up any ground he loses after breaking from the sixth post.

That's a good setup for his true talent to shine through. That could be enough for him to get the win this time around and establish himself as one of the best of this crop of three-year-olds.

Creative Minister is one of the more inexperienced horses in the field. Ken McPeek has entered the horse in just four races, and none were graded stakes until his third-place finish in the Preakness.

However, that could be an advantage, as the Belmont is the longest race of the Triple Crown at 1½ miles. Plus, he's just like the rest of the field in that he hasn't run the distance yet.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. has been impressed with what the horse has done thus far.

"That's the thing—he's a lightly raced horse, but nobody else has tried the mile-and-a-half, either," Hernandez said, per Byron King of BloodHorse. "He's answered all our questions so well."

King also noted that Tapit, who is part of Creative Minister's pedigree, has sired four winners of the Belmont. So his pedigree points to a horse that was bred to run the distance.

It's still tough to pick him based on one third-place finish, but it shouldn't be surprising if he's giving the winner a battle down the final stretch.

Rich Strike shouldn't be discounted. He'll have the opportunity to show that his Kentucky Derby win wasn't a fluke.

And it wasn't. The underdog horse is clearly talented and showcased race-winning speed.

There were some things that played out to his benefit at Churchill Downs, though. An exceptionally fast pace was set early, and many of the horses burned through their energy trying to keep up with that early pace.

That paved the way for Rich Strike, who was further back in the pack, to make a late move and surge by the rest of the field.

In the Belmont, there's only an eight-horse field. That means fewer horses to keep up with any early pacesetters and more jockeys strategically planning for a longer race.

Rich Strike has shown he has the endurance but what will he do when there are other competitors with the gas to finish strong as well?