Story perspectives

Belmont Stakes 2026 at Saratoga: Renegade Leads $2M purse

6/5/2026

Summary

Belmont Stakes Preview

The 158th Belmont Stakes will run on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Saratoga Race Course over 1 ¼ miles with a $2 million purse.
Nine horses will start, including three Chad Brown entries that make up 33 % of the field.
Renegade leads the morning-line at 2-1, while Chief Wallabee is 3-1 and Golden Tempo is 9-2.
The race will air on FOX and FS1 and stream on FOX One and Fubo, concluding the Triple Crown series.

Summary

DeVaux Targets Belmont

Cherie DeVaux, trainer of Golden Tempo, could become the second female to win the Belmont Stakes.
John Velazquez, riding Commandment, is targeting back-to-back Belmont victories, feat not achieved since Laffit Pincay Jr. in 1982-84.
Bill Mott, trainer of Chief Wallabee, hopes to repeat his 2023 win and become the first back-to-back Belmont champion since D. Wayne Lukas (1994-96).
A 60 percent chance of rain Saturday could alter track conditions and affect race tactics.

History

Historical Context

In 1973 Secretariat stunned 69,138 spectators at Belmont Park, winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths in a 2:24 flat time that still stands as the American record for 1½ miles. His victory ended a 25-year Triple Crown drought since Citation (1948) and cemented the Belmont’s reputation as the decisive “Test of the Champion” for future contenders.

1 of 3

Belmont Stakes Preview

The 158th Belmont Stakes will run on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Saratoga Race Course over 1 ¼ miles with a $2 million purse.
Nine horses will start, including three Chad Brown entries that make up 33 % of the field.
Renegade leads the morning-line at 2-1, while Chief Wallabee is 3-1 and Golden Tempo is 9-2.
The race will air on FOX and FS1 and stream on FOX One and Fubo, concluding the Triple Crown series.

1 / 3