Epsom Derby, Belmont Stakes Double a bet worth having

The New York Racing Association announced this week that on June 7, it would offer a special transatlantic Double wager linking two of the world’s oldest and most prestigious classics: the Derby (G1) at Epsom and the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga. Takeout on the special Double will be 18.5%.

The Derby, contested over 1 1/2 miles on turf and the race from which all similarly named worldwide equivalents descend, will be run at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Belmont, which will be held at a reduced distance of 1 1/4 miles for the second consecutive year while its home track continues to be refurbished, has a scheduled post time of 7 p.m.

Given how the two races have often been held on the same day for approximately 30 years, it’s a wonder why it’s taken so long for the proposition to become a reality.

While American bettors will be more than familiar with the major contenders in the Belmont, which is shaping up to have a rather short field, navigating the Derby waters has the potential to be more challenging.

However, one inescapable fact of recent Derby history has been the utter domination of the race by Coolmore. Nine of the last 14 editions of the Derby have been won by the Ireland-based partnership, with Aidan O’Brien having trained eight of them (Andre Fabre trained the France-based 2011 winner Pour Moi).

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby have won the Derby twice during that span, while superstar conditioners John Gosden, Dermot Weld (one of a select few to have won both the Derby and Belmont), and the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute captured the other renewals.

Given Coolmore’s propensity to have multiple entries in the Derby, their domination of the race has not resulted in a plethora of winning favorites. Camelot (odds-on), Australia, and City of Troy all won as the public choice, but others were relative head scratchers, like the 40-1 Wings of Eagles in 2017 and the 25-1 speedster Serpentine in the oddly run COVID edition of 2020.

At this writing, the Coolmore-owned Delacroix is the current Derby favorite in the vicinity of 2-1. But with the Derby averaging 13.9 starters since 2011, there is sure to be a wide range of viable options to consider after final declarations are made on June 4.

Successful Double players know how crucial it is to get a price in the first leg of the wager, thus reducing the number of live tickets going into the second half. Given the way the Belmont is shaping up with Sovereignty and Journalism leading the market, bettors looking to sniff out this historic Double figure to appreciate that the Epsom classic kicks it off.

Join us on June 7 for a rematch that will shake the stands. Many top Kentucky Derby contenders return for the Belmont S. (G1) to fight for the finish, including probable contender Journalism, winner of Preakness 150, and Sovereignty, winner of Derby 151. Who will stand in the winner's circle for Belmont?

Stay with us throughout Belmont Day during stakes races as we bring you the latest horse racing news, live odds, expert picks, and more. It is sure to be an exciting day of racing!