Renegade favored – Renegade stayed the betting favorite for Saturday’s 158th Belmont Stakes with just over six hours until post time, as the Derby runner-up trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher drew heavy money and the rest of the field spread out.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Renegade was still the one bettors circled as Saturday’s 158th running of the Belmont Stakes inched closer, with just over six hours to go before post time.
The Kentucky Derby runner-up, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, opened at 2-1 on the morning line and had been bet down to 8-5. After that, the money scattered across the rest of the field of nine.
Golden Tempo, Chief Wallabee, Commandment and Emerging Market each sat at 5-1 after the initial focus shifted away from the early favorite.
Long-shot players, meanwhile, were lining up their wagers on Powershift at 12-1, Growth Equity at 13-1, Ottinho at 19-1 and Vitruivian Man at 20-1.
The Belmont Stakes is being run at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York for a third and final time while the track’s traditional home on the border of Queens and Long Island was demolished and rebuilt. The race is set to return to Belmont Park next year.
For Golden Tempo’s trainer, the stakes carry an extra layer of history. Golden Tempo made Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. Now she’s chasing the second benchmark for her career at the Belmont after Jena Antonucci in 2023 with Archangelo.
DeVaux was born in Saratoga Springs and began her training career at the track, tying her path to this moment on the grounds where she began.
Belmont Stakes 2026 Renegade Todd Pletcher Saratoga Race Course Golden Tempo Cherie DeVaux Triple Crown horseracing odds
Renegade at 8-5 like… easy money? lol
I saw “heavy money” and figured that means something shady happened. Also Saratoga again? Aren’t they supposed to be at Belmont Park always?
Todd Pletcher always has a horse ready though, so 8-5 doesn’t surprise me. But why is Growth Equity at 13-1? Sounds like the name of a stock or something… I’m confused.
Wait, Golden Tempo trainer is chasing a “second benchmark” like it’s a school report? And the track being demolished and rebuilt—so they’re just using Saratoga temporarily? I feel like it changes the whole vibe, no idea why bettors don’t care.