Jason Burgos
This Saturday brings the 158th edition of the Belmont Stakes. While none of the competitors will be looking to win this year’s Triple Crown, the event at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY, is still one of the biggest of 2026.
This year’s Belmont will feature nine thoroughbreds, and the field will include Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo. Ahead of this weekend’s race, we offer up our casual fans’ ranking of the nine horses in the 2026 Belmont Stakes.
9. Vitruvian Man
After getting off to a rough start and finishing fourth and fifth in his first two races, Doug O’Neil-trained three-year-old Vitruvian Man has had rock-solid showings over his last four races. Including a third-place finish at Santa Anita in April.
Although he has performed better of late and will have the No. 1 post on Saturday, Vitruvian Man is a long shot at the Belmont Stakes as he takes a big step up in competition.
8. Power Shift
Legendary trainer Todd Pletcher has two competitors in this weekend’s race, one of them is Power Shift. A horse that is the most inexperienced in the 2026 Belmont Stakes, with only three races on its resume. However, he did score his first career win a month ago in a showcase race before this year’s Kentucky Derby. But he also posted a sad sixth-place finish before that win.
That unpredictability and better competition are why Power Shift is an underdog this weekend.
7. Ottinho
Legendary trainer Chad C. Brown will have three horses competing at the Belmont Stakes. One of them is Ottinho. The three-year-old has only one career victory. However, he has never had lower than a third-place finish in his four races, and was second to Kentucky Derby contender Further Ado at the Blue Grass in April.
Ottinho is a long shot for Saturday’s race, but there is evidence that he could surprise and be in contention later.
6. Growth Equity
The second Chad C. Brown horse running in the Stakes this weekend is Growth Equity. A horse with real upside and the talent to finish in the top three. After back-to-back second-place finishes to begin his career, Growth Equity has picked up serious momentum with victories in his last two, including at the Peter Pan last month.
If he shows that he can hang with the higher level of competition at the Belmont Stakes, the colt is a dark-horse contender for bettors to keep an eye on.
5. Chief Wallabee
William Mott-trained colt Chief Wallabee has four races on his resume, including an appearance at this year’s Derby. After a win in his January debut, the horse has delivered sound results in his next three, including a respectable fourth-place finish at the Derby.
Chief Wallabee’s history of being in races late is a major reason why he is getting solid odds to upset Golden Tempo and Renegade to win this year’s Belmont Stakes.
4. Emerging Market
The third and final Chad Brown-trained colt running on Saturday is Emerging Market. A colt that seemed like an under-the-radar sleeper at the 2026 Kentucky Derby because he scored a big victory at the Louisiana Derby in March when he outdueled Pavlovian and eventual Derby winner Golden Tempo. However, at the April event, he finished 10th.
Emerging Market is the best of the three colts Brown has in Saturday’s race, but he certainly has doubters after his performance at the Derby.
3. Commandment
Brad Cox-trained colt Commandment was a popular choice to win this year’s Kentucky Derby. After a surprising fourth-place finish in his October debut, the team retooled, and Commandment got red-hot. Winning four straight before last month’s event. However, he came nowhere close to a top-three spot after finishing seventh in the race.
While he probably won’t win on Saturday, Commandment is still a strong option for Show and Place bets.
2. Golden Tempo
Cherie DeVaux made history in April when she was the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. However, to the chagrin of horse racing fans, she did not place Golden Tempo into the Preakness Stakes and pursue the Triple Crown. However, that is likely to benefit the colt as he is rested heading into the Belmont Stakes.
In five races, Golden Tempo has three first-place finishes, and his ability to get downhill late in a race — as he did in the Derby — is why he is a top choice to win at Saratoga.
1. Renegade
Todd Pletcher-trained colt Renegade is one of the most experienced and impressive horses in the 2026 Belmont Stakes. It is why he is a top choice to win Saturday’s race. In six races, his worst finish came in his August 2025 debut when he came in sixth. Since then, he has reeled off three second-place and two first-place finishes.
The only reason he isn’t a heavy favorite this weekend is that he was the top pick at the Derby but finished second to fellow Belmont Stakes competitor Golden Tempo. The rematch between Renegade and Golden Tempo is the biggest story at Saratoga Springs.
2026 Belmont Stakes odds and predictions
Here are the current betting odds for the 2026 Belmont Stakes. This year’s race takes place at 7:04 PM ET on June 6.
- Renegade – 2-1
- Golden Tempo – 9-2
- Chief Wallabee – 3-1
- Commandment – 6-1
- Emerging Market – 6-1
- Power Shift – 12-1
- Growth Equity – 12-1
- Ottinho – 20-1
- Vitruvian Man – 30-1
2026 Belmont Stakes prediction
We can’t wait to see Renegade and Golden Tempo face off on Saturday because they are two of the best three-year-olds in the world, and it is a Kentucky rematch. However, unlike in April, we expect Renegade to score the win and sweet revenge against the Derby winner.
