Full Breakdown
2026 Belmont Stakes: Saratoga Rematch of Derby Rivals
6/7/2026, 2:28:40 AM
Renovations and Distance Change
The Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, will be contested on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Ongoing $550 million renovations at Belmont Park have moved the race to Saratoga for the third consecutive year. The venue shift shortens the classic 1 ½-mile distance to 1 ¼ miles—the same length as the Kentucky Derby—altering the stamina profile traditionally required for “the Test of the Champion.” No horse will be eligible for a Triple Crown because the Preakness winner, Napoleon Solo, is not entered.
Leading Contenders and Connections
- Renegade (post 4, 2-1 favorite) – trained by Todd Pletcher, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Renegade placed second in the Kentucky Derby after winning the Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes.
- Golden Tempo (post 9, 9-2) – trained by Cherie DeVaux, ridden by José Ortiz. The colt won the Kentucky Derby on a 23-1 longshot, becoming the first Derby winner for a female trainer.
- Chief Wallabee (post 3, 3-1) – trained by Bill Mott, ridden by Junior Alvarado. He finished fourth in the Derby after a fourth-place finish in the Florida Derby.
- Commandment (post 7, 6-1) – trained by Brad Cox, ridden by John Velazquez. He was seventh in the Derby after winning the Mucho Macho Man Stakes.
- Emerging Market (post 8, 6-1) – trained by Chad Brown, ridden by Flavien Prat. The Louisiana Derby winner finished tenth in the Derby after losing a shoe.
Other entrants include Powershift (12-1), Growth Equity (12-1), Ottinho (20-1), and long-shot Vitruvian Man (30-1).
Odds, Form and Field Composition
Morning-line odds range from 2-1 for Renegade to 30-1 for Vitruvian Man. All nine horses have competed in graded stakes; Renegade has never finished worse than third in six starts, while Golden Tempo has a 5-0 record in stakes wins and placings. The field is the smallest Belmont in recent memory, eliminating traffic-related variables that affected the Derby.
Stakes of the Race
Because the Preakness is absent, the Belmont cannot produce a Triple Crown winner. However, Golden Tempo could become the 13th horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont in the same year, echoing Sovereignty’s 2025 double. Cherie DeVaux also stands to become the first trainer to win multiple Triple Crown legs in a single season.
Expert Opinions and Critiques
SportsLine analysts Jody Demling and Gene Menez both expressed skepticism about Golden Tempo’s chances, citing the reduced distance and likely slower early fractions at Saratoga. Demling noted that the Derby’s “perfect pace” for a deep-closer may not recur, while Menez indicated he would “completely toss” the Derby champion when making wagers. Both analysts highlighted Renegade’s tactical versatility and the strong connections of Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz Jr. as factors favoring his win.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Sources differ on the exact odds presentation (9-2 vs. 9/2) and on Vitruvian Man’s listed odds (30-1 in most reports, 15-1 in a few). No official post-position scratches have been reported, but the lack of Preakness participants leaves a gap in assessing how the race will unfold without a proven middle-distance performer.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I still don't believe he's the best of this bunch and I don't think he gets a perfect set up here like he did at Churchill,” — Jody Demling, SportsLine analyst.
- “But I don't believe the setup of this race will be anything like it was in the Derby, which was perfect for a deep closer.” — Jody Demling, SportsLine analyst.
Upcoming Schedule
Post time is set for 7:04 p.m. ET on June 6, with live coverage on FOX, FS1 and FS2 and streaming on FOX One. The Belmont Stakes will return to Belmont Park in 2027 after the renovation project is completed.
