Andy Newton
This Saturday horse racing fans will be looking forward to the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes – which continues to be staged at Saratoga Race Course – due to the ongoing renovations at Belmont Park.
A high-class field of nine Belmont Stakes runners will be heading to post, with the Todd Pletcher-trained Renegade heading the betting as the stable look for their fifth success in the Triple Crown race.
Last year we saw the classy Sovereignty land the Belmont Stakes purse for trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado – and the pair are teaming up again in 2026, this time with CHIEF WALLABEE.
Mott will be eyeing a third success in the race, having also won the Run For The Carnations in 2010 with Drosselmeyer.
While jockey Junior Alvarado will be looking to win the race for just the second time and also end a 40+ year run with NO winning ‘back-to-back’ Belmont Stakes rider.
WATCH: Junior Alvarado Winning The 2025 Belmont Stakes on Sovereignty
Belmont Stakes Date and Race Details 2026
- Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
- Venue: Saratoga Racecourse
- Race Number: 158th running of the Belmont Stakes
- Distance: 1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
- Surface: Dirt
- Race Type: Grade 1 Thoroughbred race for three-year-olds
- Festival Dates: Wednesday, June 3 through Sunday, June 7, 2026
- Purse: $2 million
Can Junior Alvarado Become First ‘Back-to-Back’ Belmont Stakes Winning Jockey Since 1983?
Over the last four decades many jockeys have won the Belmont Stakes more than once – including Luis Saez in 2021(Essential Quality) and 2024 (Dornoch).
Plus, Irad Oritz Jr also fired in winners in 2022 (Mo Donegal) and 2016 (Creator). With Joel Rosario having a double in 2019 (Sir Winston) and 2014 (Tonalist).
However, in recent times NO jockey has won the Belmont Stakes in ‘back-to-back’ years.
You must go back to the 1980’s to when Panamanian jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. rode a Belmont Stakes treble. After guiding home Conquistador (1982), Caveat (1983) and Swale (1982).
All three of Pincay’s wins were trained by the remarkable Woody Stephens, who also had the winners in 1985 and 1986 – meaning he actually won the Belmont Stakes five years in-a-row.
Therefore, back to 2026 and all this means Junior Alvarado will be looking to be the first rider to defend his Belmont Stakes title for 43 years.
Alvarado has a big chance too according to the betting odds. With his mount Chief Wallabee second favorite in the market – just behind the Todd Pletcher-trained Renegade.
Chief Wallabee was last seen running fourth in the Kentucky Derby in early May, having earlier finished third in the Florida Derby in March.
With only four career runs, many feel this Bill Mott Belmont Stakes runner has a lot more improvement to come
Watch: Chief Wallabee Running 4th In The Kentucky Derby
Belmont Stakes Odds, Runners and Post Positions 2026
- Vitruvian Man (Doug O’Neill, Antonio Fresu) 20-1
- Powershift (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez) 12-1
- Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado) 3-1
- Renegade (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr) 2-1
- Ottinho (Chad Brown, Dylan Davis) 20-1
- Growth Equity (Chad Brown, Manny Franco) 12-1
- Commandement (Brad Cox, John Velazquez) 6-1
- Emerging Market (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat) 6-1
- Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz) 9-2
