In my preview of the Preakness, I noted that that race in general lacks the chaos of the Kentucky Derby. Ha—famous last words, before a race that took place after a week of downpours and on a track so encased in fog we couldn’t see the horses.

And as he has every time he’s been on the track, Justify handled it, albeit with a little more effort than in his previous races, holding off Bravazo by a half-length, who was just a neck in front of Tenfold.

Justify will face those two rivals along with seven others on Saturday at Belmont Park. After a week of varying forecasts, it looks now like the day will be mostly dry, with perhaps a storm here and there. A sloppy track is obviously a benefit to Justify; would a fast, dry track make his job easier or more difficult?

What the Belmont does have in common with the Preakness is the puzzle of making a profitable wager when you have a deserving, short-priced favorite. A lot of people will watch the race with the hope only of seeing the sport’s 13th Triple Crown winner. A lot of other people will watch the race with the hope of making money, and we’re looking at them as we offer handicapping advice for the 150th Belmont Stakes.

If you followed Emily’s and Candice’s Preakness advice, you cashed a ticket. Let’s do it again this time.

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

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