158th Belmont Stakes: Key Details and Racing Odds

3 weeks ago 0

The 158th running of the Belmont Stakes, a prominent race in the Triple Crown, is scheduled for Saturday. Unlike previous years, it won’t take place on its usual track. Instead, for the third consecutive year, the race is set at Saratoga Race Course due to ongoing renovations at Belmont Park that began in 2024.

This change in location means the race distance is reduced to 1 1/4 miles, deviating from the typical 1 1/2-mile distance of Belmont Park.

Sovereignty, with jockey Junior Alvarado, led and won the 157th Belmont Stakes at the same venue.

Golden Tempo, renowned for his victory at the Kentucky Derby, will return for this race. Notably, Golden Tempo did not participate in the Preakness Stakes. Horses from the Preakness will not be competing in the Belmont Stakes, ensuring no horse will race in all three Triple Crown events this year. Nine contenders aim for the $2 million prize.

Racers and Odds

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

Favorites

Renegade, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby and is mentored by Todd Pletcher, currently holds the most favorable odds at 2-1. Emerging Market and Commandment, trained by Chad Brown and Brad Cox respectively, both have odds of 5-1. Golden Tempo, guided by trainer Cherie DeVaux and a previous Kentucky Derby winner, stands at 9-2. Chief Wallabee follows with odds of 6-1.

Highlights Leading Up to the Race

Golden Tempo’s five-week hiatus following the Kentucky Derby win has sparked widespread discussion. This year’s race mirrors the situation last year when Sovereignty skipped the Preakness but entered the Belmont Stakes, ultimately winning it.

Cherie DeVaux, famously known for her Kentucky Derby triumph as the first female trainer, could set a record by winning two segments of the Triple Crown in one year.

Five horses from the Kentucky Derby will also participate in the Belmont Stakes, including notable contenders like Golden Tempo, Chief Wallabee, Renegade, Commandment, and Emerging Market. It might rain on Saturday afternoon in Saratoga.