The Belmont Stakes, the final event of the Triple Crown series, will occur on Saturday. This race is known as ‘The Test of the Champion.’ Due to ongoing renovations at Belmont Park, the event will take place at Saratoga Race Course for the third consecutive year.
The change in venue means the race will cover a shortened 1 1/4 miles instead of the traditional 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park.
Key Contenders and Betting Odds:
- Vitruvian Man (Antonio Fresu): 17-1
- Powershift (Luis Saez): 11-1
- Chief Wallabee (Junior Alvarado): 6-1
- Renegade (Irad Ortiz Jr.): 2-1
- Ottinho (Dylan Davis): 19-1
- Growth Equity (Manuel Franco): 11-1
- Commandment (John Velazquez): 5-1
- Emerging Market (Flavien Prat): 5-1
- Golden Tempo (José Ortiz): 9-2
This year’s stakes feature nine competing horses with a total purse of $2 million.
Strong Favorites:
Renegade, the Kentucky Derby runner-up trained by Todd Pletcher, stands as a leading favorite with 2-1 odds. Meanwhile, Emerging Market, trained by Chad Brown, and Commandment, trained by Brad Cox, both have 5-1 odds.
Golden Tempo, previously victorious at the Kentucky Derby under the training of Cherie DeVaux, comes in with 9-2 odds. Golden Tempo’s participation follows a trend from last year when Sovereignty skipped the Preakness and competed in the Belmont Stakes.
What’s Creating Buzz:
Golden Tempo recently arrived in Saratoga, aiming to replicate Sovereignty’s success. Cherie DeVaux could make history by becoming the first female trainer to win multiple Triple Crown races in the same year.
Five Kentucky Derby participants are also slated to compete: Golden Tempo, Chief Wallabee, Renegade, Commandment, and Emerging Market.
The forecast for Saratoga on Saturday afternoon indicates possible rain, which could impact the race conditions.
Viewing Information:
- Location: Saratoga Springs, New York
- Date: June 6, 2026
- Projected Post Time: 7:04 p.m. ET
- Television: FOX and FS1
- Streaming: FOX One