The rematch is on in the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1), with Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Golden Tempo ready for the challenge of Derby runner-up Renegade and seven others entered for Saturday’s final leg of the Triple Crown.
And it’s Renegade, trained by four-time Belmont winner Todd Pletcher, who was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite Monday over his Derby conqueror, the third choice at 9-2 behind Chief Wallabee, fourth in the Derby and 3-1.
Renegade drew post 4; Golden Tempo drew the outside post 9.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux was fine with the draw as Golden Tempo, a deep closer who broke from post 19 and rallied past the entire field in the Derby.
“Kind of the same as in the Derby. The field will go ahead of him, and he’ll decide when to close from the back of the pack,” said DeVaux. “He’s still on track, where he’s continuing to improve.”
While there’s no Triple Crown on the line since Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness Stakes (G2), there’s always history to be made in the Belmont.
Golden Tempo just arrived at Saratoga after preparing for the race at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. DeVaux, the first female trainer to win the Derby back on May 2, looks to become the second female trainer in four years – and ever -- to win the Belmont. Jena Antonucci won in 2023 with Arcangelo and became the first female trainer to win any Triple Crown race.
Pletcher, meanwhile, is set for his 23rd Belmont with his 43rd and 44th starters, according to NYRA statistics. Renegade, who left from post 1 in the Derby and was slammed mightily at the start, finished a neck behind Golden Tempo after both colts staged dramatic stretch-long rallies.
Pletcher also sends out Powershift (12-1, post 2), an impressive maiden winner at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, who has looked sharp in recent workouts with Renegade at Saratoga.
And once again, it’s Jose Ortiz versus older brother Irad Ortiz, Jr. Jose will be aboard Golden Tempo; Irad will be aboard Renegade.
Don’t be fooled that this Belmont will be a two-horse race. Chief Wallabee (post 3) is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, while Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment (6-1, post 7) returns from his seventh-place Derby finish for Brad Cox. Trainer Chad Brown entered a trio of colts in Emerging Market (6-1, post 8), Growth Equity (12-1, post 6), and Ottinho (20-1, post 5). And Vitruvian Man, trained by Doug O’Neill, is the longest shot at 30-1, leaving from post 1.
Mott is seeking to become the first trainer to win back-to-back Belmonts since D. Wayne Lukas won three in a row from 1994-1996. Mott won with Derby hero Sovereignty in 2025.
“No complaints about the post. We should be OK,’ said Mott. “The horse seems to be doing well. He doesn’t seem to have taken a step backward since the Derby. Hopefully, we can get a position in the race and take it from there.”
The Belmont will be run at 1 ¼ miles for the third year in a row at Saratoga rather than the traditional 1 ½ miles while Belmont Park is being rebuilt. The Belmont returns downstate in 2027 and will return to the 1 1/2-mile distance.
The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival opens Wednesday and runs through Sunday with 25 stakes races, including 18 graded stakes and 10 Grade 1 races, with purses totaling more than $11 million.
| 2026 Belmont Stakes Odds | ||
| Official post positions set following the post-position draw on Monday, June 1, 2026. | ||
| PP | Horse / Trainer | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitruvian ManAntonio Fresu · D. O'Neill | 30/1 |
| 2 | PowershiftLuis Saez · T. Pletcher | 12/1 |
| 3 | Chief WallabeeJunior Alvarado · W. Mott | 3/1 |
| 4 | RenegadeIrad Ortiz Jr. · T. Pletcher | 2/1 |
| 5 | OttinhoDylan Davis · C. Brown | 20/1 |
| 6 | Growth EquityManny Franco · C. Brown | 12/1 |
| 7 | CommandmentJohn Velazquez · B. Cox | 6/1 |
| 8 | Emerging MarketFlavien Prat · C. Brown | 6/1 |
| 9 | Golden TempoJose Ortiz · C. DeVaux | 9/2 |
Last Updated on 06/01/2026
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
