2026 Belmont Stakes Picks: Predictions and Odds for All Horses

Suggested bets for the Belmont Stakes on different budgets

$25 Budget

• $1 trifecta 3,4 with 3,4,7,8,9 with 3,4,7,8,9 ($24)

$50 Budget

• $10 exacta box 3-4 ($20)
• $5 trifecta 4 with 3 with 7,8,9 ($15)
• $5 trifecta 4 with 7,8,9 with 3 ($15)

#7 Commandment (6-1) had no real excuse for his seventh-place result at Churchill last time, but the Brad Cox trainee was excellent in Florida earlier in the season and is eligible to improve and challenge for the top prize on Saturday. The Louisiana Derby (G2) victor #8 Emerging Market (6-1) was making just his third lifetime appearance in the Derby for conditioner Chad Brown, and if any runner in the group has reason for improvement it is this colt. Flavien Prat stays in the silks. I fear that the pace scenario will not benefit Derby hero #9 Golden Tempo (9-2), so I am restricting his usage to the vertical exotics. The Curlin homebred has surely moved forward since the blinkers were added two back, and he is obviously good enough to run with this cast, but going from last to first at Saratoga is a very challenging task in a field of this quality. He will make one run in the stretch with Jose Ortiz riding. Read the full analysis here.

Read more on the 2026 Belmont Stakes contender run styles here.

What should I know before betting the Belmont Stakes?

#1 VITRUVIAN MAN: The Vino Rosso colt has won or placed in each of his three dirt runs in advance of the race, but the bay will need marked improvement to challenge for a share in this demanding spot under Antonio Fresu. A sustained run style who is a confirmed closer with modest Brisnet Speed and Late Pace ratings to his credit. He probably needs easier competition to be effective.

#2 POWERSHIFT: Lightly raced prospect was a strong maiden winner at Churchill Downs on Derby Day and will take a major class hike on this occasion. An early presser adds the services of two-time Belmont winner Luis Saez and appears certain to be sent to the early lead from the inside. A frontrunning maiden winner on the Kentucky Derby undercard, Powershift showed good speed in his debut but just missed against Emerging Market. 

#3 CHIEF WALLABEE: The bay homebred has trained well as of late and should move up while racing with blinkers on for the second time in his career. Third in the Florida Derby (G1), he will stalk the pace while always in range beneath Junior Alvarado. A presser who doesn’t want to try and outfinish Renegade and Golden Tempo from far off the pace. And given the projected moderate-pace scenario, connections were probably glad to see him draw outside of Powershift, so Chief Wallabee did not wind up on the early lead by default with second-time blinkers.

#4 RENEGADE: Morning-line choice and top pick ran a winning race in defeat in the Run for the Roses and has been very good in each of his three assignments this campaign and appears to be coming up to the race in fine fashion, too. A sustained run style who was roughed up leaving the starting gate and bumped hard by another rival while launching his rival in the stretch run of the Kentucky Derby, closing furiously to miss by a neck to Golden Tempo. He likes to drop back early, but the Belmont field probably won’t be strung out given the pace scenario.

#5 OTTINHO: The Quality Road colt, who is a half-brother to the mighty Gun Runner, did improve with the addition of blinkers last time, and he should also appreciate the added ground in this spot. A sustained run style who has been no factor closing from minor awards in his last two starts, beaten double-digit lengths when second in the Blue Grass (G1) and third in the Withers S.

#6 GROWTH EQUITY: Was much the best in his Peter Pan (G3) triumph on May 9 and is an interesting longshot in the group. The Chad Brown pupil possesses good tactical foot in a field lacking pace. An early presser who defeated only three rivals when recording a frontrunning maiden win two back and was never far back when stalking a slow early tempo in the Peter Pan (G3) last out, rallying to win his stakes debut by two lengths. 

#7 COMMANDMENT: Florida Derby (G1) victor ran evenly late in the Derby and is the millionaire son of Into Mischief. Has impressed on multiple occasions this season, and his best performance puts him right there with any contender in the cast. A presser who dropped far behind after a slow start and moved too early in the Kentucky Derby, winding up seventh. The stalker will receive a jockey switch to two-time Belmont winner John Velazquez and won’t be nearly as far back during the opening stages. 

#8 EMERGING MARKET: Was empty late in Louisville five weeks back, but the talented son of Candy Ride was making just his third lifetime run in the race and will benefit from the experience and if he runs to that morning move, then the sophomore has to be given a chance with Flavien Prat staying in the irons. A sustained run style who spotted rivals seasoning while making only his third career start and appeared out of position during the early stages of the Kentucky Derby, advancing into the teeth of a blistering pace to be fourth between calls on the first turn. He lost a shoe and weakened to 12th. 

#9 GOLDEN TEMPO (9-2): Kentucky Derby (G1) hero receives another wide post draw but has never been better since blinkers were added two races back. The Curlin homebred has reportedly been training in consistently good fashion in advance of his Saratoga debut. A sustained run style who won’t be taken out of his best run style; he will drop back early and look to make one run. Those tactics paid off in the Kentucky Derby, but the late-running colt must try to avoid leaving himself too much to do in the Belmont stretch.

Read more analysis and find picks in the Belmont Stakes Tipsheet here.