Draw Confirmed: The 2026 Belmont Stakes Field Is Set
The wait is over. The post position draw for the 158th Belmont Stakes took place on Monday, June 1, setting the gates for nine runners at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 6. The $2 million Grade 1 finale to the Triple Crown season now has a starting lineup — and the draw has thrown up some fascinating angles before a single hoof has hit the main track.
Morning-line favorite Renegade (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr.) landed post 4, a clean, uncontested draw. Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo (Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz), returning from five weeks’ rest after bypassing the Preakness Stakes, drew the outside post 9. Second choice Chief Wallabee (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado) is away from post 3.
This year’s Belmont is once again run at 1¼ miles at Saratoga — Belmont Park remains under a $455 million reconstruction and won’t reclaim the race until 2027, when the classic distance of 1½ miles returns. Last year at this distance, Sovereignty set a stakes record of 2:00.69. Mott is back with Chief Wallabee, bidding for back-to-back wins.
With no Triple Crown on the line — Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness, where Napoleon Solo won at Laurel Park on May 16 — Saturday’s race is a straight shootout. Notably, trainer Todd Pletcher fields two runners: morning-line favorite Renegade and Powershift (post 2), while Chad Brown sends out three — Ottinho (post 5), Growth Equity (post 6) and Emerging Market (post 8).
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2026 Belmont Stakes Post Positions and Odds
Here is the complete field for the 158th Belmont Stakes, with official post positions, jockeys, trainers and morning-line odds:
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Morning-Line Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitruvian Man | Antonio Fresu | Doug O’Neill | 30/1 |
| 2 | Powershift | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher | 12/1 |
| 3 | Chief Wallabee | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott | 3/1 |
| 4 | Renegade | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher | 2/1 |
| 5 | Ottinho | Dylan Davis | Chad Brown | 20/1 |
| 6 | Growth Equity | Manuel Franco | Chad Brown | 12/1 |
| 7 | Commandment | John Velazquez | Brad Cox | 6/1 |
| 8 | Emerging Market | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown | 6/1 |
| 9 | Golden Tempo | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | 9/2 |
Morning-line odds subject to change. Check MyWinners for the latest live odds before betting.
Post Draw Analysis: Who Benefits?
At 1¼ miles on Saratoga’s main track, post position matters — but it’s not the lottery it can be at Churchill Downs. The run to the first turn gives horses from wider gates time to settle, and trainers have been broadly philosophical about the draw. That said, mid-draw horses (posts 3–5) have a strong record here, and a couple of runners on Saturday have landed in ideal territory.
Renegade (Post 4) — Ideal
The morning-line favorite gets exactly what connections would have ordered. Post 4 puts him in a position to track the pace without burning energy fighting for position on the outside. He was beaten just a head by Golden Tempo at Churchill Downs and has looked exceptional in his Saratoga preparation. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the mount. This draw only adds to his claims.
Chief Wallabee (Post 3) — Very Comfortable
Bill Mott’s Constitution colt gets a clean look from the near-inside. The connections added blinkers for a fourth-place run in the Derby and those could make a significant difference at a mile and a quarter with five weeks of freshness under him. Junior Alvarado won this race last year on Sovereignty and returns looking to become the first back-to-back winning jockey in the Belmont since 1983.
Golden Tempo (Post 9) — Wide But Not a Problem
Trainer Cherie DeVaux said she was happy with the outside draw, and that’s not just spin — Golden Tempo is a versatile filly who doesn’t need to be on or near the lead. Jose Ortiz takes the mount. At the Saratoga 1¼-mile distance, the wide gate is manageable if she settles smoothly. The blueprint is Sovereignty’s 2025 run: skip the Preakness, rest up, arrive fresh. If Golden Tempo reproduces her Derby form, she’s the one to beat regardless of the gate.
Commandment (Post 7, Brad Cox) — Interesting
Now confirmed with Brad Cox as trainer and John Velazquez up, Commandment moves to post 7. A 6/1 shot who beat Chief Wallabee in both the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1), the wider draw is less ideal than the inside post he held in earlier listings — but Velazquez is one of the savviest jockeys in the business at getting a good early position.
Pletcher’s Two-Pronged Attack
Todd Pletcher holds posts 2 and 4 with Powershift (Luis Saez, 12/1) and Renegade. Powershift is a progressive colt who broke his maiden impressively at Churchill Downs. Saez won this race in 2024 (Dornoch) and 2021 (Essential Quality) and will look to dictate terms or sit in a cosy spot behind the leaders.
Chad Brown’s Triple Threat
Three of the nine runners are from the Brown barn: Ottinho (Dylan Davis, 20/1, post 5), Growth Equity (Manuel Franco, 12/1, post 6), and Emerging Market (Flavien Prat, 6/1, post 8). The tactical flexibility of three runners spread across the field gives Brown multiple ways to press or stalk the pace. Emerging Market at +600 is the most battle-tested of the trio.
Vitruvian Man (Post 1) — The Longshot to Watch
Trained by Doug O’Neill and ridden by Italian jockey Antonio Fresu, Vitruvian Man is the 30/1 outsider with celebrity ownership (Run Fast Racing, backed by Lil Wayne and Lil Yachty). He finished third in the Santa Anita Derby and has been steadily progressive. At this price, a place in the superfecta wouldn’t surprise if the pace collapses.
Key Storylines Heading Into the Belmont
The Derby Rematch
Renegade goes off as the morning-line favorite despite having lost to Golden Tempo by a head at Churchill Downs. The market believes the Derby result was a photo finish that could have gone either way, and that Renegade’s cleaner preparation for this specific race — plus the ideal post draw — makes him the value play.
Golden Tempo’s Legacy Run
Golden Tempo’s connections chose the same path that Sovereignty took to Belmont glory in 2025 — skip the Preakness, rest, arrive fresh. It worked then, setting a stakes record of 2:00.69. Trainer Cherie DeVaux also made history at Churchill Downs as the first woman to condition a Derby winner. A Belmont victory would be remarkable.
Mott and Alvarado Chasing History
Bill Mott won this race last year with Sovereignty. He returns with Chief Wallabee and the same jockey — Junior Alvarado. A back-to-back Belmont win for the same trainer-jockey combination hasn’t been achieved since 1983. Both have every reason to believe they can do it again.
Pletcher’s Fifth Belmont
Todd Pletcher has won the Belmont Stakes four times. He fires two bullets on Saturday. A fifth win would place him among the most decorated Belmont trainers of the modern era.
No Triple Crown and No All-Three-Legs Horse
With Golden Tempo skipping the Preakness and Napoleon Solo not entered here, 2026 is the eighth consecutive year without a Triple Crown contender. Ocelli, who ran in both the Derby and Preakness, bypassed the Belmont in favour of the Ohio Derby. As a result, no horse has contested all three Triple Crown legs in 2026.
Historical Post Position Stats at the Belmont
The Belmont Stakes at Saratoga (1¼ miles) is now in its third consecutive year at this venue. Mid-draw horses have fared well at the current configuration:
| Year | Winner | Post | Odds | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sovereignty | 2 | 2/1 | Saratoga |
| 2024 | Dornoch | 6 | 15/1 | Saratoga |
| 2023 | Arcangelo | 4 | 9/1 | Saratoga |
| 2022 | Mo Donegal | 6 | 5/1 | Belmont Park |
Note: Dornoch opened at 15-1 morning line but closed at a bigger price on-track; odds shown are morning line.
Bet the 2026 Belmont Stakes at MyWinners
The 158th Belmont Stakes goes to post at 7:04pm ET on Saturday, June 6 at Saratoga Race Course. All win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, superfecta and Pick 4/5/6 bets are available.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
