Expert Pick of the Week: 2026 Belmont Derby

Jul 01, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Sovereignty wins the Travers at Saratoga. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

An excellent field of 10 three-year-old horses will travel nine panels on the Saratoga lawn in Saturday’s lucrative $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1). Pacific Avenue, one of two horses imported from Europe for the event, will make his first run in the U. S. for sensational conditioner Charlie Appleby. The horse, which is owned and bred by the mighty Godolphin, is winless in four races in 2026 but has performed well in each of those tries, hitting the board in all four.

The son of standout international sire Dubawi made his last run at The Curragh to compete in the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) and checked in a nice third behind the impressive Gstaad. Pacific Avenue, who is a gray colt, will stretch out past one mile for the first time in the event, and I feel that he will handle the added ground with ease on Saturday. Fantastic jockey William Buick comes in to ride the sophomore.

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Remember Mamba won the first three races of his career prior to finishing a clear second in the American Turf at Churchill Downs last time out. The Cherie DeVaux-trained son of Kitten’s Joy was a late-running winner of the Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland two races back and comes in for his local debut with five strong morning workouts. Bred in the Bluegrass State, the $270,000 auction purchase has improved his Brisnet Speed rating with each career appearance to date and will have regular jockey Jose Ortiz in the stirrups.

Bottas was a first-out graduate on the Saratoga turf as a two-year-old prior to winning in the Pilgrim (G2) second time out. The Miguel Clement trainee was a troubled third in the Pennine Ridge (G3) on the oval to commence his 2026 season and will improve the second time off the long layoff.  The Vekoma three-year-old has a nice post to save ground in the contest and will make one run in the stretch with Manny Franco retaining the ride.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #6 Pacific Avenue on top of #2 Bottas and #3 Remember Mamba in the 2026 Belmont Derby is the Best Bet of the Week.