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The 158th edition of the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, will take place on Saturday.
However, like the Preakness Stakes, it will not be held on its usual track. The race known as “The Test of the Champion” will be held at Saratoga Race Course for the third year in a row, as Belmont Park begins undergoing major renovations in 2024.
Because the race is run on an alternate course, the distance is shortened by 1 1/4 miles, compared to the usual distance of 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park.
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Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, leads the first round of the 157th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY on June 7, 2025. Sovereignty won the race. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Returning to the Belmont Stakes was Golden Tempo, who won the Kentucky Derby. Golden Tempo did not compete in the Preakness Stakes.
Napoleon Solo won the Preakness Stakes but will not compete in the Belmont Stakes. None of the horses that competed in the Preakness Stakes will compete in the Belmont Stakes, meaning no horse will have competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown.
Nine horses will compete for the $2 million purse.
Who is racing and what are the betting odds?
- Vitruvian Man (Antonio Fresu) 17-1
- Powershift (Luis Saez) 11-1
- Chief Wallabee (Junior Alvarado) 6-1
- Renegade (Irad Ortiz Jr.) 2-1
- Ottinho (Dylan Davis) 19-1
- Growth stocks (Manuel Franco) 11-1
- Command (John Velazquez) 5-1
- Emerging market (Flavien Prat) 5-1
- Golden Tempo (José Ortiz) 9-2
CHERIE DEVAUX REFLECTS ON THE HISTORY OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY AS THE FIRST FEMALE TRAINER TO WIN THE RACE
A horse is washed before a practice session ahead of the 158th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY on June 5, 2026. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo)
Who are the favorites?
Renegade, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby and is trained by Todd Pletcher, has the best odds at 2-1.
Emerging Market, trained by Chad Brown, and Commandment, trained by Brad Cox, are both 5-1.
Golden Tempo, who won the Kentucky Derby and is trained by Cherie DeVaux, is 9-2. Chief Wallabee, coached by Bill Mott, is 6-1.
What is everyone talking about before the Belmont Stakes?
Golden Tempo just took a five-week break after winning the “Run for the Roses.” This is the second year in a row that the Kentucky Derby winner has skipped the Preakness but competed in the Belmont Stakes, as Sovereignty did last year. Sovereignty ended up winning last year’s Belmont Stakes.
GOLDEN TEMPO TRAINER CHERIE DEVAUX Calls Criticism of Preakness Decision Unfair: ‘THE HORSE IS NOT A MACHINE’
Cherie DeVaux, trainer of Golden Tempo, celebrates with the trophy in the winner’s circle after the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 2, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Golden Tempo arrived in Saratoga this past weekend. If Golden Tempo follows in Sovereignty’s footsteps – or hooves in this case – DeVaux will become the first female trainer to win multiple legs of the Triple Crown in the same year.
Jena Antonucci made history in 2023 when she became the first trainer to win the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first trainer to win a leg of the Triple Crown.
Five Kentucky Derby horses will run in the Belmont Stakes: Golden Tempo (winner), Chief Wallabee (fourth place), Renegade (second), Commandment (seventh) and Emerging Market (10th).
There is a chance of rain in the forecast for Saturday afternoon in Saratoga.
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Golden Tempo, ridden by Jose L. Ortiz, wins the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
How to watch?
- Where: Saratoga Springs, New York
- When: June 6, 2026
- Expected post time: 7:04 p.m. ET
- Television: FOX and FS1; streaming on FOX One
- Grant: $2 million
