2026 Belmont Brisnet Speed Rating Report

Nine horses are set for the final leg of the 2026 Triple Crown, Saturday’s 158th running of the $2 million Belmont (G1), and the top five contenders on the morning line are exiting the Kentucky Derby (G1) five weeks ago.

Let’s review Brisnet Speed ratings for previous Belmont winners and analyze the 2026 field.

Past winners

The Belmont will be held over 1 1/4 miles for the third and final year at Saratoga, switching back to a 1 1/2-mile distance at Belmont Park in 2027. The last two Belmont winners, Sovereignty and Dornoch, returned from a five-week rest after competing in the Kentucky Derby.

Seven of the last 10 Belmont winners lost their last start, with 2018 Triple Crown hero Justify, 2026 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, and 2023 Peter Pan (G3) winner Arcangelo the exceptions. 

Seven of the last 10 Belmont winners registered a Brisnet Speed rating of 98 or higher in the last start. The exceptions, Dornoch, Creator, and Tapwrit, rebounded from disappointing efforts in the Kentucky Derby, but Dornoch and Creator had registered triple-digit numbers previously. And multiple Grade 2 winner Dornoch had a career-best rating of 98.

2026 Belmont field

Golden Tempo got up in the final strides to edge Renegade by a neck in the Kentucky Derby, the fastest last-out race in this year’s Belmont field. But the Kentucky Derby did not come back particularly fast, with the top two finishers registering 98 Brisnet Speed ratings, and little separates the Kentucky Derby alumni from a Speed rating perspective.

Golden Tempo, Chief Wallabee, Commandment, and Emerging Market all registered triple-digit Speed ratings in early-season prep races. 

Chief Wallabee did not experience a clean trip rallying up the inside for fourth in the Kentucky Derby, getting roughed up in midstretch, and he drew well in post 3 Saturday with his tactical ability. Commandment probably moved too early after a slow start and could not sustain his run at Churchill Downs, finishing seventh. He’s eligible to receive a better trip this time around.

Emerging Market lost a shoe and was too close to a hot early pace last time, weakening to 12th under the Twin Spires. The lightly raced colt desperately lacked seasoning in a bulky field, making only his third career outing on Derby Day, and Emerging Market is a candidate to improve significantly from the experience.

The 2-1 morning line favorite, Renegade, has yet to reach the century threshold, netting a pair of 97 Speed ratings for convincing wins in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Sam F. Davis (G3) prior to the Kentucky Derby, but Renegade certainly rates as a candidate to step up with a career-best performance following a troubled trip at Churchill Downs. He’s trained by three-time Belmont winner Todd Pletcher.

Growth Equity, Ottinho, Powershift, and Vitruvian Man will make their first Triple Crown race appearance in the Belmont.

Growth Equity owns the best credentials of the group, recording a two-length win as the favorite in the Peter Pan (G3) on May 9, but his Speed ratings (career-best 94 last time) remain a little light.

Ottino must also improve his numbers following a pair of non-threatening stakes placings, finishing 11 lengths back of Further Ado when second in the Blue Grass (G1) last out. Vitruvian Man owns the lowest figures in the field.

Powershift received a commendable 98 Speed rating finishing a close second to Emerging Market in his first start, a two-turn maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs in early February. The Pletcher trainee jumped straight to stakes competition in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) but never fired after missing the break. Powershift graduated stylishly on the Kentucky Derby undercard, dominating a maiden special weight on the front end. And while he faces a major class check, Powershift rates as the projected Belmont pacesetter, and his Speed ratings are close to the major contenders.