Why Patch Can Win the Belmont Stakes – Pros and Cons - Latest Odds

Patch, the one-eyed wonder, may be able to win the 2017 Belmont Stakes at 16/1 odds.

Pros – 2^nd place finisher at the Louisiana Derby.

Cons – Non-factor in his last race, the Kentucky Derby.  Limited race experience.

Quick Thoughts – The Daily Racing Forum claims Patch can “outlast his rival”.

“This colt was the underlay of the Kentucky Derby as many fans were stirred by the one-eyed colt’s backstory. Based on his form coming into that race, he really should have been closer to 50-1, rather than his 14-1 final odds. While he never threatened to be a serious factor in the Derby, his performance was not quite as poor as it seems, since he had some serious trouble in that race. Breaking from the far outside post in a 20-horse field is hardly ideal, but Patch was able to attain decent position in midpack.

“He was traveling well past the half-mile pole, at which point he attempted to follow Practical Joke’s move around the far turn. However, that plan backfired when he got sawed off by two tiring runners at the five-sixteenths pole. Patch then attempted to rally around those horses, but again got stopped in a traffic jam at the quarter pole as runners ahead were drifting about. Robbed of all his forward momentum, he trudged home to finish a well-beaten 14th.

“What I like about Patch is that he fits the profile of the kind of horse that should take a step forward in this race. Considering that he only got his career started in January, he projects to continue improving into the second half the season.”

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com