Derby runner-up Renegade is the 2-1 morning-line favourite for the 2026 Belmont Stakes on June 6, with Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo a drifting 9-2 at Saratoga.
Renegade heads the 2026 Belmont Stakes betting with a 2-1 morning line for the Triple Crown’s final leg, run on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Saratoga Race Course. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt, second in the Kentucky Derby, sits ahead of Bill Mott’s Chief Wallabee (3-1) and Derby winner Golden Tempo (9-2). With no Triple Crown on the line, the race is a wide-open outright betting market rather than a coronation.
Key Facts:
• Renegade is the 2-1 morning-line favourite from post four — HorseRacingNation
• The race goes off at 7:04 p.m. EDT on June 6, 2026 over 1¼ miles at Saratoga — HorseRacingNation
• Nine horses are entered; Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby winner, is 9-2 from post nine — HorseRacingNation
• It is the third straight year Saratoga hosts the Belmont while Belmont Park is rebuilt — Covers
What do the Belmont Stakes odds look like?
The official morning line makes Renegade (2-1) a clear favourite over Chief Wallabee (3-1), Golden Tempo (9-2) and the 6-1 pair Commandment and Emerging Market. Powershift and Growth Equity are 12-1, Ottinho 20-1 and Vitruvian Man 30-1. Racing prices are quoted in fractional form, so 2-1 means a £1 win stake returns £2 profit plus the stake — equivalent to +200 in American odds or 3.00 in decimal.
Todd Pletcher saddles both Renegade and Powershift, while Chad Brown fields three runners. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Renegade, Jose Ortiz partners Golden Tempo and Junior Alvarado takes Chief Wallabee.
Why is Renegade the favourite over the Derby winner?
Bettors have sided with Renegade despite Golden Tempo holding the Derby form line, after a troubled run at Churchill Downs and a favourable Saratoga draw. The market reads the 1¼-mile trip as a better fit for a closer than a pace-dependent winner.
“He’s a tough, tough colt. He’s resilient and determined,” said Todd Pletcher, trainer of Renegade. “If they’re not going real fast, he can be a little closer than he has been.” (HorseRacingNation)
Golden Tempo’s camp is less certain. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has flagged that her colt needs a genuine pace to run at, a concern in a field with limited early speed. That is why the Derby winner has drifted to 9-2 rather than being sent off favourite — a contrast with the short, clear-cut single-event prices seen in markets like the French Open outright.
Form, the draw, and what to watch
Chief Wallabee is the field’s improver, with Bill Mott reporting progress since the Derby. Renegade’s post-four draw gives Ortiz tactical options, while Golden Tempo breaks widest of the contenders from post nine. With no standout front-runner, expect a steadily run race that suits patient rides.
Betting Outlook
Favourite: Renegade at 2-1 (+200 American / 3.00 decimal) on the Saratoga morning line as of June 3, 2026, from post four under Irad Ortiz Jr. He was beaten less than a length in the Derby after a rough trip and steps up on a track and trip that suit a closer.
Predicted result: Renegade to win, Chief Wallabee second, Golden Tempo third. A patiently run 1¼ miles should let Renegade pick off a tiring pace, with Chief Wallabee the likeliest to chase him home.
Exotic and place plays worth a look:
- Chief Wallabee to finish top two (place) — improving since the Derby per Mott, with tactical speed from post three.
- Renegade-over-Chief Wallabee exacta — the two market principals in the likeliest one-two.
- Golden Tempo each-way / top three — fairly priced at 9-2 to hit the board even if a slow pace blunts his finish.
What to fade: a straight win bet on Golden Tempo at 9-2. His trainer admits he needs a pace that may not materialise, so backing him to win outright carries race-shape risk a top-three play avoids.
Odds correct as of June 3, 2026. Informational only — not financial or betting advice. 18+ / 21+ depending on jurisdiction. See Responsible Gambling notice below.
FAQ
Q: When and where is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
A: Saturday, June 6, 2026, with a 7:04 p.m. EDT post time over 1¼ miles at Saratoga Race Course.
Q: Who is the favourite for the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
A: Renegade, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, at 2-1 on the morning line from post four.
Q: Is a Triple Crown on the line in 2026?
A: No. No horse won both the Derby and the Preakness, so the Belmont runs without a Triple Crown bid.
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