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Belmont Stakes Betting: It’s been a busy year for Free Drop Billy, who will be running his 10th race since last June. He’s finished in the money seven times in his previous nine starts and has two victories, but his last outing was a disastrous 16th place finish at the Kentucky Derby. He cruised to an easy victory in his maiden race at Churchill Downs last year and placed in his next two races. In his first start around two turns, Free Drop Billy ran his best race to pick up a Grade 1 win by four-and-a-half lengths at the Breeder’s Futurity. He disappointed with a ninth-place finish at the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, but bounced back to finish in the money in his next three starts to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
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.
Free Drop Billy
Career Record: 2-3-2
Career Earnings: $625,220
Belmont Stakes Odds at BookMaker.eu: +3000
The son of 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags, Free Drop Billy would join three other horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby but passed on the Preakness Stakes. And trainer Dale Romans is still miffed by his horse’s finish at Churchill Downs. Free Drop Billy finished on the board in seven of his first eight races before a puzzling 16th place finish at the Derby. The chestnut opened as a +3000 long shot and isn’t expected to challenge favorite Justify, but that hasn’t stopped Romans from working him into condition for the 1 1/2-mile track at Belmont. “He’s bred to run all day,” Romans said of Free Drop Billy.
Why Free Drop Billy Will Win the Belmont Stakes
He’s known as a closer but Free Drop Billy can’t afford a lackadaisical start like he had at Churchill Downs. He broke slow out of the gate and was never a factor at the Kentucky Derby, finishing 16th out of the 20 horses. It was a puzzling run for Romans, who said he’d rather not know why his horse ran such an uncharacteristic race.
In a workout prior to the Belmont Stakes, Free Drop Billy ran easy and was full of energy. “He did everything you’d like him to do,” Romans said after the gallop. And that’s a good sign for “The Test of the Champion” that’s coming up. And he’s got something to prove after his Run for the Roses flop.
Why Free Drop Billy Won't Win the Belmont Stakes
It’s hard to get excited over a horse that finished four spots out of last place at the Kentucky Derby. Maybe he didn’t like the sloppy track, but it still doesn’t help the confidence factor. That showing also affected his opening line with oddsmakers pegging him as a 50/1 longshot. Free Drop Billy hasn’t won a race since the Breeder’s Futurity last October and his two worst finishes have come in Grade 1 races.
The Final Verdict
Free Drop Billy has finished on the board in seven of his nine starts and has shown the ability to close quickly. He needs to show a lot more, though, after fading to a disappointing finish at the Derby his last time out. But that run isn’t a true representation of his ability and he can bring much more. He has strong bloodlines and a dry track may help him more than any horse in the field. He needs a quicker start out of the gate in order to use his closing ability, but even then finishing in the money is likely out of the equation.
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2018 Belmont Stakes Contenders
