Bet this race at Top pick: #7 (Rock Your World) (9-2) - Don't give up on this horse after a poor showing at the Kentucky Derby. He got a bad pole position (#15) in a crowded field and was sandwiched early. Prior to that, he was a perfect three-for-three this year including taking the Santa Anita Derby in his longest race yet (1 1/8). That was his first start on dirt and he impressively beat Medina Spirit (the 9-10 favorite) by 4 1/4 lengths. Medina Spirit then went on to win the Kentucky Derby and was third in the Preakness. Rock Your World is rested after bypassing the Preakness and in preps for this race ran 58.40 in five furlongs, fastest of 32 drills at that distance. And jockey Joel Rosario won the 2013 Belmont with Tonalist and the 2019 Belmont atop Sir Winston.
2nd pick: #2 (Essential Quality) (2-1) - Six races, five first-place finishes, one fourth-place in the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago just a length behind the victorious Medina Spirit. A Thoroughbred who was the American Champion Two-Year-Old of 2020 after winning the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He has the tactical speed necessary for Belmont and this distance should suit him well being a son of Tapit, a Thoroughbread who has sired three Belmont winners.
3rd pick: #6 (Known Agenda) (6-1) - Belmont is the longest of the Big 3 races at 1.5 miles. In the last five races at 1 1/8 miles or more, Known Agenda has three first-place finishes and one third-place. All those were on dirt like Belmont Park. He's the son of Curlin, who won the 2007 Preakness and was runner-up in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. Known Agenda is in bounce-back mode after a poor showing in the Kentucky Derby when he drew the unfortunate rail post position. That hurt, as he was stuck inside for the first mile. Known Agenda skipped the Preakness to prep for this race. That extra rest is a plus, as is his stamina and running style to wait for a sweeping move, which will come in handy at Belmont with its wide, sweeping turns and lengthy homestretch.