Study Guide: 2026 Belmont Stakes

Jun 02, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Golden Tempo wins the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.(Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Saturday’s $2 million Belmont (G1) at Saratoga, the third and final leg of the 2026 Triple Crown, is shaping up as a rematch of the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Kentucky Derby 1-2 finishers Golden Tempo and Renegade lead the field, with Chief Wallabee (fourth in the Derby), Commandment (seventh), and Emerging Market (10th) adding further depth to this stellar Belmont lineup.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the entries for the 2026 Belmont:

Vitruvian Man

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Glenn Sorgenstein WC Racing and Run Fast Racing
Breeder: Glenn Sorgenstein WC Racing
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Antonio Fresu

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $142,345

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Caradini
Color: Bay

Vitruvian Man placed at the Grade 1 level when finishing third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), but he was beaten 9 1/2 lengths and will need a step forward to beat tougher competition in the Belmont.

Powershift

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Liberty Road Stables
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in a maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $81,896

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Free Flying Soul
Color: Dark bay/brown

Powershift impressed in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, pressing the pace before taking over to win by 2 3/4 lengths. He has the speed to work out a favorable forwardly placed trip in the Belmont, but it’s worth noting Powershift’s lone previous try at the graded stakes level produced a sixth-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). The Belmont is his toughest test so far.

Trainer @PletcherRacing Pletcher kicks off the Kentucky Derby opener with a strong finish from POWERSHIFT! Jockey @iradortiz set the tone right away to seal a sure win.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/rZ191mt0cj

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 2, 2026

Chief Wallabee

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Michael Ball and Katherine G. Ball
Breeder: Mike Ball and Katherine Ball
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (103) when finishing second in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $466,600

Sire: Constitution
Dam: A La Lucie
Color: Bay

Chief Wallabee has competed with aplomb at the graded stakes level, finishing second in the Fountain of Youth (G2), third in the Florida Derby (G1), and fourth in the Kentucky Derby. But he’ll need at least a small step forward to turn the tables on Kentucky Derby rivals Golden Tempo and Renegade.

Renegade

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Robert Low, Lawana L. Low, and Repole Stable
Breeder: Robert Low and Lawana Low
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $2,031,500

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Spice Is Nice
Color: Bay

Renegade broke from post 1 in the Kentucky Derby and got bumped around significantly in traffic. He wound up racing a dozen lengths off the pace before rallying strongly to finish second, beaten only a neck by Golden Tempo. Previously victorious in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Sam F. Davis S., Renegade can rebound with a winning performance at Saratoga if he works out a clean trip under two-time Belmont-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Ottinho

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $324,700

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Quiet Giant
Color: Bay

Ottinho exits a rallying runner-up finish in the Blue Grass (G1), for which he earned a career-best 93 Brisnet Speed rating. But he was beaten 11 lengths by Further Ado, who subsequently faltered as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. The waters get deeper in the Belmont, and Ottinho will need improvement to beat the favorites.

Growth Equity

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Stone Farm
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Peter Pan (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $187,600

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: My Dear Venezuela
Color: Bay

Growth Equity has won his last two starts in decisive fashion, including the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan (G3). But his pedigree suggests stretching out over 1 1/4 miles for the Belmont is at least a small question mark.

Commandment

Start(s): 6
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Lee Pokoik
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (103) when winning the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $1,017,339

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Sippican Harbor
Color: Bay

Commandment won four starts in a row leading up to the Kentucky Derby, including the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth over Chief Wallabee. But he faltered on the first Saturday in May, finishing seventh. Commandment is a formidable talent on his best day, but his Brisnet Speed ratings are declining, so it’s uncertain whether he’ll produce a peak performance in the Belmont.

Emerging Market

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Stoneriggs Farm
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (102) when winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $618,880

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Wild Empress
Color: Chestnut

Emerging Market opened his career with back-to-back wins, defeating Powershift in a maiden special weight and Golden Tempo in the Louisiana Derby (G2). But he arguably raced too close to the pace when finishing 10th in the Kentucky Derby. There isn’t much early speed entered in the Belmont, so Emerging Market may enjoy a better setup at Saratoga and rebound in a big way.

Golden Tempo

Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable
Breeder: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (100) when finishing third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $3,433,000

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Carrumba
Color: Bay

Golden Tempo stormed from last place to win the Kentucky Derby by a neck over Renegade. A quick pace helped his chances, but take note, Golden Tempo clocked his final quarter-mile in a swift :24.44. Golden Tempo’s pedigree is geared strongly toward success racing 1 1/4 miles, so as was the case in the Kentucky Derby, he figures to relish every yard of the Belmont distance. Holding off Golden Tempo in the Saratoga homestretch won’t be easy.