The Final Leg of the US Triple Crown
The 158th running of the Belmont Stakes will carry a purse of $2 million and will be staged at Saratoga Race Course for the third and final time.
Its natural home, Belmont Park, has been undergoing extensive redevelopment work, with racing set to return there later this year.
While at Saratoga, the distance of the race has been shortened from 12 furlongs to 10 furlongs.
Race time is 12:04 am (Irish time) on Sunday, June 7. (Saturday night/Sunday morning).
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A Belmont Stakes Memory
I took the sedate train journey from Grand Central Station in Manhattan, New York, to the racetrack for the Belmont Stakes in 1999.
As we rolled gently through widely differing industrial and suburban landscapes, it wasn’t long before racegoers were jumping aboard. Excited, eager, colourful, humorous and chatty. No one drags their heels when heading for the track.
It was the year that Charismatic was going for the Triple Crown. Looking set to win, he sustained an injury but still finished third.
I can still hear the intake of breath and sense the concern for a racing hero who, along with his devoted pilot, Chris Antley, had lit up the season. Antley’s action in quickly jumping off Charismatic undoubtedly saved the horse from greater injury. He tenderly held onto the colt as tears streamed down his face.
Both had been written off during their careers but had confounded the critics. There were around 75,000 people there that day. It lives on in the memory.
Kentucky Derby Rematch Headlines Belmont Stakes
If you haven’t seen this year’s Kentucky Derby, it is well worth a watch.
It was dramatic and became a battle involving the Ortiz brothers, with José edging out his 14-months-older sibling, Irad, when Golden Tempo produced a late surge to collar the favourite Renegade, who had endured a rough race, in the final few strides. The winning margin was a neck.
Golden Tempo was stone last as the field turned for home, and his trainer, Cherie Devaux, became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.
Both horses sidestepped the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of America’s Triple Crown, in favour of the Belmont Stakes.
That was surely a wise move, even if it ended Triple Crown hopes for 2026. As a consequence, Saturday’s race will serve up an eagerly anticipated rematch.
Belmont Stakes 2026 Runners & Leading Contenders
Nine horses will line up at Saratoga, although Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo will not be among them.
Renegade
The Kentucky Derby runner-up has been impressing in pre-race workouts and is strongly fancied to reverse placings with Golden Tempo.
A victory would give trainer Todd Pletcher a fifth Belmont Stakes success.
Golden Tempo
The Kentucky Derby winner produced a stunning late run at Churchill Downs and arrives seeking a second Triple Crown race victory.
With José Ortiz again in the saddle, he looks certain to have plenty of support.
Commandment
Brad Cox, who won the Belmont Stakes with Essential Quality in 2021, will be represented by Commandment.
The Kentucky Derby seventh had warmed up for Churchill Downs with victory in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby. He was forced to race wide and suffered interference during the Derby.
The smaller Belmont field should make life considerably easier this time around.
Aside from Renegade and Golden Tempo, he is the only Grade 1 winner in Saturday’s line-up.
Chief Wallabee
The Kentucky Derby fourth was beaten just three lengths in Louisville despite suffering traffic problems.
Before that, he finished second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.
Trainer Bill Mott, a Hall of Famer, has won the Belmont Stakes twice, including last year with Sovereignty.
Chad Brown’s Trio
Chad Brown, still seeking a first Belmont Stakes victory, saddles three runners.
Ottinho arrives fresh after bypassing the opening two Triple Crown races. His latest start came on April 4 when he finished second in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Growth Equity has won his last two starts, including the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont At The Big A on May 9.
Emerging Market won his first two races before finishing tenth in the Kentucky Derby after losing a shoe early in the contest.
Other Runners
The field is completed by:
- Vitruvian Man (one win from five starts)
- Powershift (one win from three starts for Todd Pletcher)
Belmont Stakes Prediction
The scene appears set for Renegade to gain revenge on Golden Tempo after his unlucky run in the Kentucky Derby.
Golden Tempo deserves enormous respect after his Churchill Downs heroics, while Commandment looks the most likely horse to capitalise should the front two fail to fire.
Prediction:
- Renegade
- Golden Tempo
- Commandment
Belmont Stakes Sire Statistics
Renegade and Commandment are both by Into Mischief, who also sired last year’s Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty.
The most successful sire in recent Belmont history is Tapit, responsible for four winners since 2014.
His son Constitution produced Tiz The Law, winner of the 2020 Belmont Stakes, while Constitution’s sons Powershift and Chief Wallabee line up this year.
Golden Tempo’s sire is Curlin, who produced the 2013 Belmont winner Palace Malice.
Curlin’s son, Good Magic, later sired the 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch.
Belmont Stakes Betting Trends
There have been four winning favourites in the last eight renewals.
However, there have also been winners returned at 16/1 and 7/1 within the last three years.
The favourite has finished either first or second in eight of the last nine Belmont Stakes runnings and finished third in the other.
Belmont Stakes Winning Jockeys in the Field
Several riders lining up this year have already tasted success in the race:
- Luis Saez (Vitruvian Man) – 2021 (Essential Quality) and 2024 (Dornoch)
- Junior Alvarado (Chief Wallabee) – 2025 (Sovereignty)
- Irad Ortiz Jr (Renegade) – 2016 (Creator) and 2022 (Mo Donegal)
- José Ortiz (Golden Tempo) – 2017 (Tapwrit)
- Manuel Franco (Growth Equity) – 2020 (Tiz The Law)
- John Velazquez (Commandment) – 2007 (Rags To Riches) and 2012 (Union Rags)
Final Verdict
The 2026 Belmont Stakes may lack a Triple Crown storyline, but the rematch between Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo and runner-up Renegade provides a fascinating narrative.
Renegade has reportedly been thriving in training and could be poised to turn the tables, while Commandment rates the chief danger if the Derby pair become embroiled in another battle.
With Saratoga staging the race for the final time before Belmont Park’s return, another memorable chapter in American racing history awaits.
