Belmont Stakes Odds – Brave Victory Belmont Betting Longshot

One of the betting longshots in 2009 Belmont Stakes odds for the 141st Running of the Carnations on Saturday is Brave Victory at 20-1. It’s hard to place a longshot bet on the three-year-old sire of Lion Heart owned by Robert V. LaPenta who did not run in the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness but did have a show in the Peter Pan Stakes. The horse has never won a distance longer than seven furlongs and most horse betting handicappers don’t give him a change to match strides with the likes of Mine That Bird or Charitable Man.

Despite all the factors and being a betting longshot in Belmont Stakes odds, Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito will hear none of it. "They may not be as good as Mine That Bird and Charitable Man, but at least they're fresh.'' Brave Victory turned in his final runs this morning under jockey Rajiv Maragh and rider Eddie Cruz working in tandem with Miner’s Escape. Both horses are entered in 2009 under Zito. “I was very happy with everything,” said Zito. “I wanted them to go even. They both went great, and they’re ready to go.” Any horse bettor knows that you can never count out a Zito entered horse. Out of 11 horses Zito has entered, eleven of them have placed in the money including wins by Birdstone in 2004 and Da’ Tara in 2008. "I think I got live long shots here, but that's about it,'' he said. "If we're good enough, we'll make it. If not, we won't. We just gotta play the game and see.''