The 158th Belmont Stakes: A Detailed Preview

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The Belmont Stakes, the final stage of the Triple Crown, marks its 158th race on Saturday. Unlike tradition, this year the race won’t take place at Belmont Park. Due to ongoing renovations at Belmont Park begun in 2024, the race takes place at Saratoga Race Course for the third year in a row.

The alternative venue affects the race’s length. It will cover 1 1/4 miles, shorter than the typical 1 1/2-mile track at Belmont Park.

Among the participants, Golden Tempo returns after claiming victory at the Kentucky Derby. Interestingly, Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness Stakes. Napoleon Solo, who won the Preakness, is absent from the Belmont Stakes. Notably, this edition sees no horse competing across all three Triple Crown races.

Nine horses will vie for a $2 million prize. Here’s the list along with their betting odds:

Vitruvian Man (Antonio Fresu) 17-1
Powershift (Luis Saez) 11-1
Chief Wallabee (Junior Alvarado) 6-1
Renegade (Irad Ortiz Jr.) 2-1
Ottinho (Dylan Davis) 19-1
Growth Equity (Manuel Franco) 11-1
Commandment (John Velazquez) 5-1
Emerging Market (Flavien Prat) 5-1
Golden Tempo (José Ortiz) 9-2

Favorites in the Race

Renegade, finishing second in the Derby and trained by Todd Pletcher, holds the best odds at 2-1. Emerging Market, trained by Chad Brown, and Commandment, under Brad Cox, both follow at 5-1. Golden Tempo, victorious at the Derby and trained by Cherie DeVaux, stands at 9-2. Chief Wallabee, trained by Bill Mott, is seen at 6-1.

Key Discussions Before the Stakes

Golden Tempo has had a five-week pause post-Kentucky Derby win. Similar to last year, the Derby victor skipped the Preakness but joined the Belmont Stakes. Sovereignty followed a similar path last year and emerged triumphant in the Belmont Stakes.

If Golden Tempo emulates Sovereignty’s success, Cherie DeVaux would become the inaugural female trainer to secure wins in multiple Triple Crown races in the same year. In 2023, Jena Antonucci broke new ground as the first female trainer to secure a Belmont Stakes victory and a leg of the Triple Crown.

Five horses who ran in the Derby will compete in the Belmont: Golden Tempo (winner), Chief Wallabee (fourth place), Renegade (second), Commandment (seventh), and Emerging Market (10th). Rain is possible in Saturday’s forecast for Saratoga.