The 158th Belmont Stakes runs Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Saratoga Race Course -- the third straight year at Saratoga while Belmont Park is rebuilt. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (5-2) meets Preakness winner Napoleon Solo (7-2) in what shapes up as the deepest post-Triple-Crown Belmont field in years. The race runs at 1 1/4 miles; same distance as the Derby; due to Saratoga's track configuration.
Early morning-line guidance based on connections' announcements through May 18, 2026. Official entries and post positions are drawn Tuesday, June 2.
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Early Odds | Storyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Tempo | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | 5-2 | Kentucky Derby winner. Five weeks rest from Derby; skipped Preakness. |
| Napoleon Solo | Paco Lopez | Chad Summers | 7-2 | Preakness winner. Three weeks rest. Chad Summers' first Triple Crown campaign. |
| Renegade | Flavien Prat | Todd Pletcher | 4-1 | Derby runner-up. Shipped to Saratoga immediately after the Derby for the longer prep. |
| Iron Honor | TBD | Brad Cox | 6-1 | Preakness runner-up. Connections weighing Belmont vs Haskell; final decision expected late May. |
| Chief Wallabee | Irad Ortiz Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | 10-1 | Derby 4th. Strong closing kick. |
| Ocelli | Tyler Gaffalione | Kenny McPeek | 12-1 | Derby 3rd (70-1). Lightly favored on McPeek's Triple Crown form. |
| Chip Honcho | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen | 12-1 | Preakness 3rd. Asmussen still seeking his first Belmont. |
This is the third consecutive Belmont at Saratoga Race Course, where the race has been hosted since 2024 as Belmont Park undergoes a $455 million reconstruction. The race returns to a fully rebuilt Belmont Park in 2027.
Saratoga's main track is 1 1/8 miles around; too short for the traditional 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" distance. As in 2024 and 2025, the race will be contested at 1 1/4 miles, identical to the Kentucky Derby distance.
For bettors, the shorter distance has practical consequences:
Because Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness, no 2026 Triple Crown is possible; only Justify (2018) and American Pharoah (2015) have completed the sweep in the past three decades, and the absence of a Triple Crown contender removes some of the speculative public money that typically inflates Belmont win pools.
That said, the 2026 Belmont is shaping up as the deepest post-Triple-Crown field in years. Both classic winners (Golden Tempo, Napoleon Solo) confirm, plus Derby runner-up Renegade arrived at Saratoga immediately after the Derby. Without the Triple-Crown narrative driving public chalk, expect a more efficient market and higher value on longer prices.
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Time | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sovereignty | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott | 2:00.92 | 7-2 |
| 2024 | Dornoch | Luis Saez | Danny Gargan | 2:01.64 | 17-1 |
2024 and 2025 are the only modern editions at Saratoga at 1 1/4 miles. Belmont Park returns in 2027 at the traditional 1 1/2-mile distance.
FanDuel (with full TVG integration) is the strongest all-around option for Belmont wagering. DraftKings and bet365 round out the top three for fixed-odds futures markets.
You can wager on the Belmont in Kentucky through two channels:
Pari-mutuel payouts fluctuate until post time. Final odds are not known until betting closes.
The 158th Belmont Stakes runs Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Post time is approximately 7:00 PM ET. Fox Sports holds the broadcast rights with simulcast on Fox and FS1.
This is the third consecutive year the Belmont Stakes runs at Saratoga while Belmont Park undergoes a $455 million reconstruction. The renovated Belmont Park is scheduled to reopen for the 2027 Belmont Stakes.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be contested at 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs); the same distance as the Kentucky Derby. The traditional 1 1/2-mile Belmont distance does not fit Saratoga's main track configuration. The race returns to 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park in 2027.
No. A Triple Crown requires the same horse to win all three legs (Derby, Preakness, Belmont). Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness; won by Napoleon Solo; so no single horse can sweep the series in 2026. This is the first guaranteed absence of a Triple Crown since 2018 (Justify).
Yes. Trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed Golden Tempo will contest the Belmont after his Derby win and Preakness pass. The Belmont will be his second start since the Derby, with five full weeks of rest. He is the early 5-2 favorite.
Yes. Preakness winner Napoleon Solo is confirmed for the Belmont per trainer Chad Summers, with three weeks of rest from the Preakness. He is the early second choice at 7-2.
Every licensed Kentucky online sportsbook offers fixed-odds Belmont futures and pari-mutuel pools on race day. Top platforms: FanDuel/TVG, TwinSpires, 1/ST BET (NYRA's preferred operator), DraftKings, BetMGM, bet365. You must be physically located in Kentucky and meet the legal age requirement (18+ currently, 21+ from July 13, 2026).