| 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
Stepping up seemingly out of nowhere, Powershift offers bettors a 12-1 longshot option from Todd Pletcher.
The trainer who also sends out 2-1 favorite Renegade in the final leg of the Triple Crown was impressed with Powershift’s recent workout at Saratoga, breezing along with Renegade.
Lightly raced, this son of Constitution makes just his fourth career start but could be a factor as a pace-presser coming off an impressive maiden win at third asking on Derby Day.
Powershift, beaten less than a length by Emerging Market in his career debut in February, ran a disappointing sixth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) a month later. However, he returned with an eye-catching 2 ¾ length victory at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on May 2.
He worked 4 furlongs in 48.60 seconds in company with Renegade at Saratoga on May 29. After that, Pletcher met with owner Mike Repole, and they decided to go for it, even though Repole co-owns Renegade.
“He’s always shown a lot of talent, and we got sidetracked a little bit when he didn’t fire at Tampa, but he regrouped and came back with a big race,” Pletcher said. Hopefully, he keeps improving. Any time you can win a race [like that], it gives you some confidence and gives the connections confidence as well.”
In Tampa, Powershift didn’t get off to a strong start, and that compromised his chances. He was ridden by John Velazquez in the Tampa Bay Derby. Luis Saez rides on Saturday.
“I think Johnny was a little bit frustrated – didn’t get off to a great start in the race at Tampa, and that sort of took him out of the position we wanted to be in, in behind horses and taking a little more kickback than he did in his debut, so it just didn’t go right from the first step away from there,” Pletcher said.
With Powershift in the mix up front, it could set up nicely for a closing Renegade.
“I think Powershift will be forwardly placed, and I think they complement each other’s running styles, which is always a plus,” Pletcher said. “You don’t want to necessarily run two stablemates that both have the same running style against each other. Powershift is in there because we think he’s legitimate. He’s not in there as a pace-setter, he’s in there to try and win.”
Without a definitive speed horse to set the pace, that role could fall to Powershift, with Chief Wallabee and Emerging Market close by.
Three starts, a recent win to break his maiden, and he’s in the Belmont? Hard to believe, but it’s Todd Pletcher making the call, and he’s won the Belmont four times. Belmont Stakes contender Powershift looks like he can get the 1 1/4 miles, but can he be fast enough against the Derby winner, his stablemate, and a few other Derby-tested 3-year-olds? Seems like he could be in the field to keep an honest pace for Renegade to make his move in the stretch. Hard to see him in the top 3, but let’s check how a winning trifecta could be, including Powershift.
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.
