For the third consecutive year, the Belmont Stakes is heading to Saratoga.
As renovations continue at Belmont Park, the final leg of the Triple Crown will be run at New York’s second-most famous track, the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will look to add another signature prize after skipping the Preakness Stakes, which was won by Napoleon Solo.
To prepare for Saturday’s race, let’s dive into the odds and make some 2026 Belmont Stakes predictions.
Belmont Stakes Horses, Position Draws, & Odds
Horse racing odds for these Belmont Stakes picks are current as of Saturday, June 6, and courtesy of FanDuel Racing.
- Vitruvian Man, 21-1
- Powershift, 13-1
- Chief Wallabee, 5-1
- Renegade, 8-5
- Ottinho, 19-1
- Growth Equity, 13-1
- Commandment, 5-1
- Emerging Market, 5-1
- Golden Tempo, 5-1
Scratched from the Belmont Stakes
As of Saturday, June 6, no horses have been scratched from the Triple Crown race at Saratoga Race Course.
When is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
While the Belmont Stakes continues to be held at Saratoga Race Course, its place on the calendar remains unchanged.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be held on Saturday, June 6, with a post time of 7:04 p.m. ET.
Belmont Stakes Prediction to Win/Place/Show
No. 4 Renegade (8-5)
Renegade was the betting favorite in the Kentucky Derby, finishing as the runner-up to Golden Tempo by a neck.
Given that strong performance, it’s no surprise that the Arkansas Derby winner is the betting favorite again in Saratoga.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has two previous Belmont Stakes victories with Creator (2016) and Mo Donegal (2022), and trainer Todd Pletcher has overseen four Belmont champions.
While the price isn’t ideal, I’m backing Renegade to win the Belmont Stakes as one of my best horse racing bets today.
No. 9 Golden Tempo (7-2)
While it was disappointing to see the Kentucky Derby winner sit out the Preakness Stakes, that decision was made with this race in mind.
Last year, we saw the potential benefit of rest between triple-crown races, as Sovereignty backed up his Kentucky Derby victory with a win at the Belmont Stakes.
Could Golden Tempo follow suit?
I wouldn’t be shocked. Expect another strong race from this three-year-old colt.
No. 7 Commandment (5-1)
Commandment was my pick to win the Kentucky Derby. He finished in seventh place, five-and-a-quarter lengths behind Golden Tempo.
Despite a disappointing end to that race, the Florida Derby winner should be well-positioned for a strong run in Saratoga.
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Commandment has the guidance of Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who rode Rags to Riches (2007) and Union Rags (2012) to victory at the Belmont Stakes. Trainer Brad Cox also has a previous Belmont win with Essential Quality (2021).
Look for the No. 7 to make a charge down the back stretch on Saturday.
Belmont Stakes Longshot Pick
No. 2 Powershift (12-1)
As the lone speed horse in this race, Powershift is an intriguing longshot pick to win the Belmont Stakes.
He could set the pace and create a gap too big for the chasing pack to overcome. And while Powershift lacks experience at this level, he has an elite trainer-jockey tandem in Todd Pletcher and Luis Saez.
Saez has won the Belmont twice in the last five years. He rode Dornoch (2024) to victory in the first Belmont Stakes at Saratoga two years ago and helped Essential Quality (2021) outlast the field at Belmont Park.
At 12-1 odds, Powershift is worth a wager in his triple-crown debut.
Past Belmont Stakes Winners
2025: Sovereignty
2024: Dornoch
2023: Arcangelo
2022: Mo Donegal
2021: Essential Quality
2020: Tiz the Law
2019: Sir Winston
2018: Justify
2017: Tapwrit
2016: Creator
