Meet the Belmont Stakes horses running in the 2026 race
Nine horses will run in the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, led by Derby runner-up Renegade and Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
CBS News previews the 2026 Belmont Stakes field, highlighting a New York rematch between the Kentucky Derby's top two finishers and the horses, odds, jockeys, and trainers to watch. The race is again at Saratoga and will not complete a Triple Crown sweep because Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness.
Nine fast horses are racing in the Belmont Stakes, kind of like the final game in a championship series. The biggest names are Golden Tempo and Renegade, who already faced each other in the Kentucky Derby, so this race is a rematch.
Analysis
The setup
CBS News says nine horses are entered in the 2026 Belmont Stakes, which will be run at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is being billed as a New York rematch of the top two finishers from the Kentucky Derby: Golden Tempo and Renegade.
The field and favorites
Renegade, who lost the Derby by a neck, is the morning-line favorite at 2-1. Golden Tempo, the Derby winner, is listed at 9-2. Other notable runners include Chief Wallabee at 3-1, Commandment and Emerging Market at 6-1, Powershift at 12-1, Growth Equity at 12-1, Ottinho at 20-1, and Vitruvian Man at 30-1.
The article notes that there will be no Triple Crown sweep this year because Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness Stakes in Maryland.
Why this Belmont is different
The Belmont is usually the longest Triple Crown race at 1 1/2 miles, but this year it will be run at 1 1/4 miles because of Saratoga’s track configuration. CBS News says Belmont Park on Long Island is expected to reopen in 2027 after redevelopment.
Key contenders
Renegade arrives with wins in the Arkansas Derby and Sam F. Davis Stakes, plus a second in the Remsen Stakes. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride him, and trainer Todd Pletcher is looking for another Belmont win.
Chief Wallabee finished fourth in the Derby and will again have Junior Alvarado aboard for trainer Bill Mott. Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose Ortiz, comes in with Derby-winning form and a chance to join the small group of horses that have won both the Derby and Belmont.
Commandment also has a strong résumé, with wins in the Florida Derby, Fountain of Youth Stakes, and Mucho Macho Man Stakes before a seventh-place Derby finish. John Velazquez will ride for trainer Brad Cox.
Key points
- Nine horses are entered in the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
- Renegade is the morning-line favorite at 2-1 after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby.
- Golden Tempo, the Derby winner, is running at 9-2 after skipping the Preakness Stakes.
- The Belmont will be run at 1 1/4 miles this year instead of its usual 1 1/2 miles.
- Belmont Park is expected to return as the race site in 2027 after redevelopment is finished.
If the favorites run to form, the Belmont could deliver a high-profile rematch and a clean finish to the Triple Crown season. It could also give jockeys and trainers like Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher, Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, and Cherie DeVaux another major win on one of racing’s biggest stages.
The race may feel less historic than a normal Belmont because it is shorter than usual and not at Belmont Park. CBS News also notes that no horse can sweep the Triple Crown this year, which lowers the stakes for the broader season finale.
