Sierra Leone is the Belmont Stakes Favorite, Ahead of Derby and Preakness Winners

In today’s newsletter…

- Leading Off: Belmont Stakes odds
- MLB: Look for low score in KC
- Soccer: International friendlies on tap
- News: Swiatek wins French Open

Sierra Leone is the favorite at today’s Belmont Stakes, which will take place at Saratoga Race Course because of construction at Belmont Park. Post time is 6:41pm ET, and the 10-horse field features Kentucky Derby winner Mystic Dan (6/1) and Preakness Stakes winner Seize The Grey (4/1). Sierra Leone, who lost to Mystic Dan in the Derby by a nose, starts this morning at 2/1.

Two of Todd Pletcher’s horses, Mindframe and Antiquarian, follow at 7/1 and 10/1, respectively. The odds don’t get very long in today’s 156th Belmont, as Pletcher’s third horse in the race, Protective, is listed at 17/1 — the biggest number you can find on FanDuel right now. Resilience (11/1), who finished 6th in the Kentucky Derby, Honor Marie (12/1), who was 8th in the Derby, The Wine Steward (15/1), and Dornoch (15/1), who finished 18 lengths back in 10th at the Derby, round out the field.

Because officials didn’t want horses to start on the far turn at the Belmont’s temporary home in Saratoga, the race has been shortened from 1.5 to 1.25 miles.

In today’s newsletter, Malcolm is covering Yankees’ starter Nestor Cortes’s home strength and potentially quiet days offensively in Kansas City and DC. In soccer, Sam is looking at international friendlies, including Euro 2024 tune-ups and the USMNT, along with a match in the Copa Libertadores.