Saturday is the third and final year the Belmont Stakes will be contested at historic Saratoga Race Course. Due to the shorter track configuration at Saratoga the race will be run at 1 ¼ miles.
The $2 million, Grade 1 event anchors a five-day festival of racing at The Spa. The Saturday card also features several other prominent Stakes, including three qualifying races for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup.
Here is a brief look at the field for this year’s Belmont:
1. VITRUVIAN MAN [ML 30-1] Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Doug O’Neill. Comes in off a distant (9 ½ length) 3rd-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby April 4th. Prior to his Stakes debut he had won one of five starts in Kentucky, that victory coming in October 2025 during his 2-year-old season in a 1 1/16-mile Maiden race on dirt at Keeneland. Even if he were to improve off of his 3rd in the Santa Anita Derby it seems unlikely, he’ll have an impact here, based on his race record and speed figures- which have leveled off at 15 points lower than the top contenders in this race.
2. POWERSHIFT [ML 12-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. He didn’t begin his career until early in his 3-year-old season, when he finished 2nd by three-quarters of a length to EMERGING MARKET in a one-mile and 70-yard Maiden race at Tampa Bay Downs. He rebounded in start number three posting an impressive Maiden win on the Derby undercard on May 2nd. There’s plenty of room to improve over the rest of his 3-year-old season but moving him from a Maiden win to a start in the 1 ¼-mile Belmont is a bit ambitious.
3. CHIEF WALLABEE [ML 3-1] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: Bill Mott. Projects to be one of the top two or three betting choices in the Belmont Stakes come Post Time. In the Kentucky Derby he made his stretch rally at about the same time as GOLDEN TEMPO and runner-up RENEGADE did, but unlike that pair that closed in the center of the track, he took aim several positions closer to the rail and was knocked off stride when OCELLI– also closing, shifted left and caused a chain reaction of bumping. He figures to get a much better trip against this smaller field and should be right in the mix late under his regular rider Alvarado.
4. RENEGADE [ML 2-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Five weeks ago, he nearly became the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby breaking from the rail (inside) Post Position since 1986. He had a rough trip overall after exiting the gate, especially early when he was bumped repeatedly but then settled well off of the early pace. He was swung wide into the center of the stretch as the Derby field turned for home, and despite bumping another colt during his rally, he closed with a rush while joined and passed by GOLDEN TEMPO near the finish line. He skipped the Preakness and has settled in at Saratoga for another crack at a mile-and-a-quarter Triple Crown race, and this time he’ll face a much smaller field, which should result in a cleaner trip.
5. OTTINHO [ML 20-1] Jockey: Dylan Davis. Trainer: Chad Brown. He had enough points to run in the Kentucky Derby, but his connections decided to bypass the Derby and instead point to the Belmont, so he’ll have just over two months of rest upon his return, nearly month more than any other contender. He will need to improve by leaps and bounds to be a factor in this year’s Belmont. His workouts have been steady and methodical, which reflects his overall running style to date.
6. GROWTH EQUITY [ML 12-1] Jockey: Manny Franco. Trainer: Chad Brown. The wild card entrant in this year’s Belmont as he has not faced the other starters before. He comes into the race off of two open-length, impressive wins in New York, winning his Maiden by 4 ¼ lengths in a one-mile race at Aqueduct in March and then taking the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan Stakes by two lengths on May 9th. He was forwardly placed in his Maiden win and was never challenged late. He won the Peter Pan with a stalking strip against a field that’s far less accomplished than these. Still, his Speed Figures are on an ascending pattern, and if he improves again on Saturday, he’s an upset threat. Perhaps his best attribute is his tactical speed, which should be an asset in a field that lacks a confirmed pacesetter.
7. COMMANDMENT [ML 6-1] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Brad Cox. He ran 7th in the Derby where he was jostled in the stretch by OCELLI when attempting to rally from off of the pace. He did not quit after the incident and checked in 5 ¼ lengths behind the winner. Prior to the Kentucky Derby he won four races in a row dating to last fall, including three Stakes races at Gulfstream Park, highlighted by the March 28th Florida Derby victory. He rallied from off of the pace in all three Stakes wins and projects to attempt a similar come-from-behind strategy in the Belmont with Johnny V. in the saddle for the first time. The 1 ¼-mile distance should be right in his wheelhouse.
8. EMERGING MARKET [ML 6-1] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Chad Brown. He enjoyed a relatively trouble-free trip in the Derby, settling in 5th and well within range of the early pacesetters while saving ground. In the far turn a hole opened up along the inside right in front of him, presenting what seemed to be a golden opportunity to move up and engage the leaders. But when Prat asked him to go, he didn’t respond and backed up in the stretch to finish 10th of 18 starters. His pedigree is good for handling 1 ¼ miles and Prat stays aboard.
9. GOLDEN TEMPO [ML 9-2] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Cherie DeVaux. In the Kentucky Derby he validated the high expectations about his potential set last winter, putting it all together at the ideal time to win the historic race with a thrilling center-of-the-stretch rally. He’s had five weeks to recover from his taxing Derby win and has been training well at Keeneland prior to shipping north. The Derby winner always gets plenty of wagering support in his subsequent Triple Crown races so, he’ll be one of the top choices in the Belmont. Nevertheless, he’s got a solid chance at earning another Triple Crown win.
The Belmont Stakes is slated as race 13 on a massive card of 14 with a scheduled Post Time of 7:05.
Best of luck however you play it.
