Andy Newton
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is one of the most successful horsemen of the modern era, and his record in the Belmont Stakes reflects that success.
Pletcher has won the final leg of the Triple Crown on four occasions, placing him among the most successful trainers in Belmont Stakes history.
And he’s back for more in 2026, with the Belmont Stakes still being staged at Saratoga – more on that below.
Todd Pletcher’s Belmont Stakes Wins Run Over 15-Year Period
His victories have come across a 15-year span, highlighting both his longevity and his ability to prepare elite three-year-olds for one of racing’s toughest assignments.
His first Belmont Stakes success came in 2007 with the filly Rags to Riches, while his most recent victory arrived in 2022 with Mo Donegal.
What makes Pletcher’s Belmont record particularly impressive is the variety of horses he has won with.
Some arrived after strong Kentucky Derby campaigns, while others skipped parts of the horse racing Triple Crown trail – including the Preakness Stakes – and were specifically targeted at the Belmont.
Rags to Riches (2007)
Pletcher’s breakthrough Belmont Stakes victory came with the outstanding filly Rags to Riches in 2007.
Already a Kentucky Oaks winner, she became the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes since Tanya in 1905.
In one of the race’s most memorable finishes, Rags to Riches battled Triple Crown winner hopeful Curlin all the way down the stretch before prevailing by a head.
The performance instantly became one of the defining moments of Pletcher’s career and remains one of the most celebrated Belmont Stakes victories of the modern horse racing era.
Palace Malice (2013)
Pletcher returned to the Belmont winner’s enclosure six years later with Palace Malice.
After setting an unsustainable pace in the Kentucky Derby and fading badly, Palace Malice rebounded impressively during the remainder of the Triple Crown series.
The colt produced a controlled front-running display in the Belmont Stakes, giving jockey Mike Smith a comfortable victory.
The win underlined Pletcher’s ability to regroup and improve horses following disappointing Derby performances.
Tapwrit (2017)
Tapwrit provided Pletcher with his third Belmont Stakes success in 2017.
After finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby, connections opted to bypass the Preakness Stakes and point directly towards Belmont Park.
The extra rest proved crucial, as Tapwrit delivered a career-best performance to defeat Irish War Cry in the stretch.
The victory followed a route that has become increasingly popular among Belmont contenders, with trainers preferring to arrive at the race with a fresher horse.
Mo Donegal (2022)
Todd Pletcher’s most recent Belmont Stakes winner came with Mo Donegal in 2022.
A strong closer throughout his three-year-old campaign, Mo Donegal had endured a difficult trip when fifth in the Kentucky Derby. Back in New York, however, he flourished over the demanding Belmont distance.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Mo Donegal produced a powerful late surge to defeat Nest and Skippylongstocking, giving Pletcher his fourth Belmont Stakes triumph.
The victory also carried extra significance as it came in the trainer’s home state and at the race he has long targeted as one of the season’s premier prizes.
Does Todd Pletcher Have Any Belmont Stakes Runners in 2026?
Yes. Todd Pletcher is expected to be represented by leading contender Renegade in the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Renegade has been one of the standout colts of the 2026 Triple Crown trail and is widely expected to start among the favourites for the race.
The son of Into Mischief built his reputation with victories in the Sam F. Davis Stakes and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby before heading to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.
Although beaten in the Derby, Renegade lost little in defeat (watch below).
After travelling strongly throughout the race, he briefly hit the front in the stretch before being caught late by Golden Tempo, eventually finishing a close second.
Many observers felt the performance confirmed him as one of the leading three-year-olds in training.
Rather than contest the Preakness Stakes, Pletcher elected to keep Renegade fresh for the Belmont-a strategy that has worked successfully for him in the past.
The colt has reportedly trained well since arriving at Saratoga and remains one of the most talked-about horses in the field.
Several early betting markets have installed Renegade as the Belmont Stakes favourite, with odds generally ranging between 2-1 and 5-2.
His proven Grade 1 form, strong Derby effort and suitability to Saratoga’s temporary 1¼-mile Belmont configuration have all contributed to his position at the head of the market.
Should Renegade deliver on expectations, Todd Pletcher would secure a fifth Belmont Stakes victory and move even closer to the race’s all-time training greats.
With a proven Belmont formula and one of the strongest contenders in the field, Pletcher once again looks set to play a major role in the outcome of the Triple Crown finale.
Pletcher Could Also Run Powershift In The Belmont Stakes
The Todd Pletcher-trained Powershift is also emerging as a late but increasingly serious contender after joining the conversation off a promising maiden win at Churchill Downs (watch below).
Powershift, is a lightly raced colt, has progressed quickly through the ranks this spring and has shown clear improvement in recent morning work alongside stablemate Renegade.
The duo recently worked in company over a half-mile, with Powershift finishing up strongly, underlining why Pletcher is now considering him a genuine Belmont runner rather than just a supporting stablemate.
If he does take his place in the gate for the 158th running, Powershift will attempt a major step up in class.
But connections believe his natural speed and growing stamina could make him a live outsider in a race that has already thrown up surprises on the Saratoga stage.
Powershft is also owned by Repole Stable who are part-owners of the other Pletcher Belmont Stakes runner – Renegade.
Who Has Trained The Most Belmont Stakes Winners?
When it comes to Belmont Stakes success, no trainer has matched the remarkable record of James G. Rowe Sr., who remains the winning-most trainer in the history of the race with eight victories.
His Belmont triumphs came between 1883 and 1913. A record that has stood for well over a century and remains one of the most impressive achievements in American horse racing.
Rowe’s eight Belmont Stakes winners were George Kinney (1883), Panique (1884), Commando (1901), Delhi (1904), Peter Pan (1907), Colin (1908), Sweep (1910) and Prince Eugene (1913).
Several of those horses became stars of their era, particularly the unbeaten Colin, who is still regarded as one of the greatest Thoroughbreds in racing history.
Remarkably, Rowe also won the Belmont Stakes twice as a jockey before establishing himself as a legendary trainer.
He remains one of only two people to have captured the race both in the saddle and from the training ranks, further cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
More than 110 years after his final Belmont victory, Rowe’s record of eight wins still stands as the benchmark for every trainer who dreams of success in the Triple Crown finale.
