Preview and predictions for the 158th Belmont Stakes
The 158th Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 6, and for the third straight year at Saratoga Race Course. The final jewel of the Triple Crown will be contested again at 1 1/4 miles, and return to Belmont Park next year for it's 1 1/2 mile race and "Test of a Champion" following the completion of the massive $550 million renovation project at Belmont Park. 
This year's Belmont Stakes favorite Renegade finished 2nd in the Kentucky Derby behind longshot Golden Tempo (23/1), who is a challenger as the 9/2 second choice on opening paramutual odds. Kentucky Derby horse profiles, odds, race replay and information you can bet on was provided in my horse racing coverage at OSGA.
The Belmont Stakes Festival is a one of the biggest days of horse racing, and I've listed the races below along with Belmont Stakes horses, odds and select analysis for the 9-horse field.
I may add some additional information you can bet on Saturday from my horse racing contacts who pass along additional picks and race analysis. So follow along as interested in betting on the Belmont Stakes and biggest stakes races in the June 6 racing festival.
Belmont Stakes Field And Odds
Some of my contacts and colleagues at Horse Racing Nation rank the field for the 2026 Belmont Stakes with additional analysis and racing insight. I've added the post positions, horses and jockeys with both paramutual odds and fixed odds edge offered by top online sportsbook BetOnline. Fixed odds listed after jockey.
| Post Position | Horse | Track Odds | Jockey | Fixed Odds |
| 1 | Vitruvian Man | 30-1 | Antonio Fresu | +6600 |
| 2 | Powershift | 12-1 | Luis Saez | +1000 |
| 3 | Chief Wallabee | 3-1 | Junior Alvarado | +425 |
| 4 | Renegade | 2-1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | +175 |
| 5 | Ottinho | 20-1 | Dylan Davis | +4000 |
| 6 | Growth Equity | 12-1 | Manny Franco | +1200 |
| 7 | Commandment | 6-1 | John Velazquez | +450 |
| 8 | Emerging Market | 6-1 | Flavien Pratt | +625 |
| 9 | Golden Tempo | 9-2 | Jose Ortiz | +725 |
Belmont Stakes Favorites past 25 Years
I've been covering the Belmont Stakes at Off Shore Gaming Association since 2016. I wrote a piece that year about 'Fading the Favorites', as Belmont Stakes favorites had won just three of the previous 15 Belmont Stakes. Then another longshot won the 2016 Belmont with Creator (16/1) winning and race favorite and Preakness winner Exaggerator finishing 11th as the heavy 7/5 favorite.
Belmont Stakes race favorites to win since 2017 include:
- 2018: Justify (4/5) - won Triple Crown
- 2020: Tiz the Law (4/5) - Race at 1 1/8 miles
- 2021: Essential Quality (8/5)
- 2022: Mo Donegal (5/2)
In 2017, the Belmont Stakes race favorite finished second behind winner Tapwrit (5/1). In 2018 the favorite finished second behind Sir Winston (10/1). In 2023 favorite Forte finished second behind Arcangelo (8/1). In 2024 race favorite Sierra Leone finished third behind winner Dornoch (17/1) at 1 1/4 miles. Last year in 2025 slight favorite Journalism finished second behind Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (5/2) at 1 1/4 miles.
Soevereignty is the only horse to win two Triple Crown races since 2019, as 23 different horses have won the last 24 Triple Crown races (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes). The 2025 Trainer of the Year Bill Mott conditioned Sovereignty, and Mott will look to make it back-to-back wins with Chief Wallabee (6/1) a contender in the 2026 Belmont Stakes.
Bet on the Belmont Stakes at one of these Elite-rated sportsbooks!
Saratoga Racing Schedule for Belmont Stakes Day
The huge day of racing on June 6 at Saratoga includes 14 races with seven big graded stakes races and six featured Grade 1's.
Race 7 (2:47 ET): $500,000 G1 Just a Game Stakes (1 mile, turf) - favorites #3 Segesta (7/5), #2 Sandtrap (3/1)
Race 8: $400,000 G3 True North Stakes (6 1/2 furlongs) - favorites #3 Bentornado (8/5), #6 Book'em Danno
Race 9: $500,000 G1 Jaipur Stakes (5 1/2 furlongs) - favorites #6 Ag Bullet (3/1), #5 Reef Runner (4/1)
Race 10: $500,000 G1 Woody Stephens (7 furlongs) - favorites #6 Crude Velocity (9/5), #7 Englishman (3/1)
Race 11: $1 million G1 Hill 'N Dale Metropolitan Handicap - favorites #1 Nysos (9/5), #7 Journalism (5/2)
Race 12: $1 million G1 Manhattan Stakes (1 3/16 miles) favorites #7 Rhetorical (2/1), #6 Bright Picture (3/1)
Race 13 (7:04 ET): $2 million G1 Belmont Stakes (1 1/4 miles) - favorites #4 Renegade (2/1), #3 Chief Wallabee (3/1)
More updates and information you can bet on as news, betting information and picks available.
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FairwayJay is a leading sports betting industry analyst, handicapper, content creator, writer, reporter and poker player based in Las Vegas. He's been covering major sports including from a betting perspective for more than two decades. FairwayJay is also on the scene for major sports and poker events plus industry conferences as a credentialed media member. That includes coverage of five Breeders' Cup World Championships including the last two years at Del Mar, where FairwayJay cashed in big on a $16 Pick 5 for more than $5,600. Follow @FairwayJay on X and OSGA for more insight and information you can bet on.
