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Belmont Stakes Betting: Entering the Kentucky Derby with three wins in four career starts, Noble Indy was an intriguing entrant, though a longshot with a morning line of 30/1. He opened his racing career last December with a convincing 8 3/4-length victory at Gulfstream Park and he claimed a hard-fought win his next time out, holding off the field in an allowance/optional race in his 2018 debut. Running in a graded race for the first time, Noble Indy finished behind Bravazo and Snapper Sinclair at the Risen Star Stakes. Running against the same two colts at the Louisiana Derby, Noble Indy edged Lone Sailor by a neck to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. He’ll look to rebound from a disappointing 17th-place finish at Churchill Downs.
The 150th running of the Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 9, 2018 with post time set for 6:40 p.m. ET at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Catch the Belmont Stakes live on NBC.
Noble Indy
Career Record: 3-0-1
Career Earnings: $691,600
Belmont Stakes Odds at BookMaker.eu: +3300
Coming off a lackluster race and disappointing finish at the Kentucky Derby, Noble Indy wasn’t even on the opening odds list as there was some concern over him running at Belmont. Not one to pass on a good race, trainer Todd Pletcher and Noble Indy’s handlers elected to give it a go at Belmont and the colt hit the board at +3300. A change in riders at the Derby may have had an effect on the horse. After two wins and a second-place finish with John Velasquez on the mount, Florent Geroux had the reins at Churchill Downs and it appears as though Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will ride at the Belmont Stakes.
Why Noble Indy Will Win the Belmont Stakes
Noble Indy loves a battle but he just couldn’t break free on a sloppy and sealed track at the Kentucky Derby, leading to a distant finish. That’s not to say the horse doesn’t have talent. He won three of his first four starts with a third-place finish in the other, and he displayed his competitiveness at the Louisiana Derby.
Taking command of the race in the final turn, Noble Indy was passed by Lone Sailor down the stretch. However, in a move rarely seen this late in a thoroughbred race, Noble Indy fought back on the inside, charging back to re-take the lead and win by a neck. Racing with better conditions than the slop in Louisville, Noble Indy could be a pacesetter and he’s shown the ability to close.
Why Noble Indy Won't Win the Belmont Stakes
He’s shown a fighting mentality in his previous races and that will actually work against him on the 1 1/2-mile track. Expending energy early in the race will zap Noble Indy of strength needed to close over the last 1/4 mile. And if he couldn’t finish the shorter Kentucky Derby with a strong push, there’s no way he’s going to last over the extended track at Belmont.
The Final Verdict
He’s had some strong starts and beaten quality horses that he’ll run against in New York. However, Noble Indy isn’t built for the 1 1/2-mile course. That’s not to say he can’t do it, but it’s unlikely. He has good pedigree with his great grandsire being 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and his sire, Take Charge Indy, won the 2012 Florida Derby. Noble Indy is a temperamental horse and he’ll be worn out enough over the final stretch to drop off the pace.
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2018 Belmont Stakes Contenders
