Belmont 2026 picks to win: Odds, expert predictions, betting lines, favorites
The 158th running of the Belmont Stakes is nearly here, with a 7:04 p.m. ET post time in Saratoga, New York, on Saturday. It is the end of the most important stretch of the horse racing season — the Triple Crown — and another huge betting day in the sport.
Renegade drew the No. 4 post position and is the 2-1 morning-line favorite, ahead of Chief Wallabee (3-1, post No. 3) and 2026 Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (9-2, post No. 9).
Be sure to keep up with the most recent Belmont odds right here, as the odds will keep changing leading up to the race.
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Yahoo Sports spoke to horse racing handicapper Peter Fornatale (creator of In the Money Media Network) — to preview the favorites, long shots and get his wagering strategy for Saturday’s Triple Crown race.
The favorites
Renegade (2-1): “I don’t think it’s hard to make the case that Renegade is the best horse of his generation. He was so heralded coming into this year’s Derby, and his trip was less than ideal. It was a roughly run race. Granted, in the end, the way the pace fell apart, he got a setup. I was against him in the Derby, but I picked him to win this race before the draw and I don’t see a lot of reason to get off the opinion that he’ll win the Belmont. Rather than betting him to win as a favorite, it might be more profitable to bet him in some exactas with other horses I like.”
Chief Wallabee (3-1): “This was my Derby pick. I think that you can tell a story that he ran the best race of anyone there. Hung on to fourth despite having trouble. This time around, he should be able to have a better trip — smaller field, better pace scenario. I like him immensely. I’ll want to use him in my exactas.”
Golden Tempo (9-2): “Such a cool horse and so great to see him and everyone involved make racing history at the Kentucky Derby. Rooting for him in my heart in a lot of my ways, but in my head, here we had a horse that had a great setup in the Derby that produced a historically slow final time. When you have a Derby winner that has had that setup, you’re supposed to bet against them in the next race. My money will be going elsewhere.”
One long shot
Emerging Market (6-1): “The other runner out of the Derby I’m really interested in is Emerging Market. Another horse who was closer to that supersonic early pace, but the other angle is that he lost a shoe in the first turn. He was so lightly raced coming in that I’m willing to ignore the Derby run. It shows all kinds of confidence that Chad Brown wants to run him in this race. I think he’s another one that has another great shot to run in the top two.”
Belmont best bets
“I’ll look to play Renegade in exactas with Chief Wallabee and Emerging Market. I’ll have a larger denomination with Renegade over those two runners and a smaller amount on Renegade under those two runners. And then I’ll have a smaller exacta box just with Emerging Market and Chief Wallabee.”
