2026 Belmont Stakes horses, odds, post time: Picks by elite horse racing handicapper
The 2026 Belmont Stakes has a compelling storyline at the top of the odds board, as Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skips the Preakness and heads straight for the third stone of the Triple Crown. Standing in his way is 2-1 morning line favorite Renegade, a Kentucky Derby runner looking to get even Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Golden Tempo rallied from last to first to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby at 30-1 five weeks ago, and his connection is at the best of Saratoga/4 Belmont’s 1 1/2-mile track, which is still in preparation. Bet the Belmont Stakes with TwinSpires promo code CBSSPORTS and get a special $400 bonus, double the regular offer.:
Post time for the 2026 Belmont Stakes is approximately 7:04 pm ET. The 2026 Belmont Stakes field includes Chief Wallabee (3-1), Commandment (6-1), and Emerging Market (6-1) among the single-digit favorites. Before making any 2026 Belmont Stakes picks, you’ll want to see the 2026 Belmont Stakes predictions from SportsLine by Michelle Yu.
He started 2025 with a strong entry on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and also predicted Forever Young’s win in the Saudi Cup, Journalism’s win in the San Felipe Stakes, Sandman’s win in the Arkansas Derby and Mindframe’s win in the Churchill Downs Stakes. He also hit a perfect shot in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. In August he hit the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic, and in March 2026 he nailed the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby.
Now, with the 2026 Belmont Stakes post positions set and odds on the board, Yu shares 2026 Belmont Stakes betting picks and predictions for the 2026 Belmont Stakes on SportsLine. You can go to SportsLine now to see them.
Top Belmont Stakes predictions for 2026
Surprise: Yu fades 3-1 to Chief Wallabee, one of the premier contenders for the 2026 Belmont Stakes. Yu points to a worrying trend that has followed Chief Wallabee in every major race of his career since breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park in January. He ran second in the Fountain of Youth, third in the Florida Derby, and fourth in the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
“He’s one of those horses that everyone is always expecting to put it all together,” Yu told SportsLine. “Every time he moves up in class, he runs well enough to look like he belongs, but he never gives you the big punch you need to win at this level. A fourth-place finish in the Derby after a tough trip gives him an excuse, but I keep waiting for him to break through, and he hasn’t. I’m still going.” See what other 2026 Belmont Stakes horses to back at SportsLine.
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How to make 2026 Belmont Stakes picks
Instead, Yu’s top choice is a horse that should “work” regardless of speed. And he’s high on the double-digit tally that “must stay for a good trip.” He shares 2026 horses in the Belmont Stakes to return to SportsLine.
So who wins the 2026 Belmont Stakes? What is the long double-digit figure to reverse, and how did Yu build his wedges? Visit SportsLine to see Yu’s Belmont Stakes picks, all from a Santa Anita-based racing insider with a long history of Belmont Stakes success, and find out.
2026 Belmont Stakes odds, post positions
