🏆 2026 Belmont Stakes Preview

The final jewel of the Triple Crown — now with a Derby‑distance twist.

The 158th Belmont Stakes runs today at Saratoga Race Course, the temporary home of the race for the third straight year while Belmont Park completes renovations. The race is shortened to 1¼ miles, matching the Kentucky Derby distance — a major factor in handicapping this year’s field.

There is no Triple Crown on the line, but the storyline is still rich:

• Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby winner, seeks a second jewel.

• Renegade, the Derby runner‑up, is the 2‑1 favorite and looking for revenge.

• A deep group of Derby alumni returns, making this one of the most competitive Belmonts in years.

🐎 Field, Odds & Post Positions

According to the latest board, the nine‑horse field lines up as follows:

🔍 Top Storylines to Watch

⭐ 1. Renegade’s Redemption Arc

Renegade was the favorite in the Kentucky Derby and finished second to Golden Tempo. He enters the Belmont as the 2‑1 favorite and profiles perfectly for the Derby‑length configuration at Saratoga.

⭐ 2. Golden Tempo Goes for Two

The Derby winner shocked the world at 23‑1, and now he tries to win his second Triple Crown race from the far outside post. His late kick makes him dangerous at 1¼ miles.

⭐ 3. A Deep Derby Rematch

Five Derby runners return:

• Golden Tempo (1st)

• Renegade (2nd)

• Chief Wallabee (4th)

• Commandment (7th)

• Emerging Market (10th)

This is one of the strongest returning groups in recent Belmont history.

⭐ 4. The Underdog Trend

Underdogs have dominated the Triple Crown season:

• Golden Tempo won the Derby at 23‑1

• Napoleon Solo won the Preakness at 8‑1

This field is top‑heavy, but recent chaos suggests a longshot could still pop.

🐴 Contenders & Dark Horses

🥇 Renegade (2‑1) — The deserving favorite

Powerful, consistent, and built for this distance. The horse to beat.

🥈 Golden Tempo (9‑2) — The Derby champ

Outside post is tricky, but his closing speed makes him a major threat.

🥉 Chief Wallabee (3‑1) — The steady grinder

Fourth in the Derby and well‑drawn. A logical top‑three pick.

📌 Race Details

• Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026

• Post Time: 7:04 p.m. ET

• Location: Saratoga Race Course

• Distance: 1¼ miles

• Purse: $2 million

Prediction:

I am coming in hot to fade Golden Tempo today.  Maybe he shows, but I think that this race will not have the massive pace that the Kentucky derby did before melting down at the last turn.  The horse that I like the most is the favorite in the 4 horse Renegade.  The Kentucky Derby did him no favors at the one post and the four will work out much better.  I also like the 3 horse Chief Wallabee as he has the speed and enduracne to place in the race.  The 7 horse Commandment did nothing wrong minus having a bad race in the Kentucky Derby.  His four wins in a row including at Gulfstream at the Florida Derby tell me he will contend.  Finally, I have to get on the 8 horse in Emerging Market.  Flavian Pratt is a great jockey who had choice of the three Chad Brown horses in this race.  My ticket will be exacta heavy with a $2 trifecta for a total of $134