2026 Belmont Stakes moved to Saratoga, distance shortened; expert shares picks
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Race Course instead of Belmont Park due to renovations. The race distance has been shortened from the traditional 1.5 miles to 1.25 miles, matching the Kentucky Derby distance. According to odds released by CBS Sports, Renegade is the morning-line favorite at 2-1, followed by Chief Wallabee at 3-1 and Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo at 9-2. SportsLine horse racing expert Jody Demling, who has predicted the Belmont winner in four of the last eight years, has shared his picks for the race. Demling is not selecting Golden Tempo, citing the smaller field and the horse’s outside post position. He is instead recommending an unspecified longshot he believes will win.
What’s reported
The 2026 Belmont Stakes is moved to Saratoga Race Course because of renovations at Belmont Park.
The race distance is reduced from 1.5 miles to 1.25 miles.
Renegade (2-1 odds) finished second in the Kentucky Derby; Chief Wallabee (3-1) was fourth; Golden Tempo (9-2) won the Derby.
Vitruvian Man (30-1) starts from the inside rail (post No. 1); Golden Tempo drew the outside No. 9 post.
Expert Jody Demling correctly predicted the top three finishers of the 2025 Kentucky Derby in order.
Demling has called 11 of the last 22 Preakness winners and four of the last eight Belmont winners, including an exacta in 2022.
Demling believes the Kentucky Derby was set up for closers like Golden Tempo, but the smaller Belmont field makes a last-to-first win less likely.
The No. 9 post has a 7.0% win rate, the lowest among the first nine posts.
Demling is high on an unnamed longshot he says “will make a big jump” to win.
Key figures
Jody Demling (horse racing expert, SportsLine)
Renegade (horse, 2-1 odds)
Chief Wallabee (horse, 3-1 odds)
Golden Tempo (horse, 9-2 odds, trained by Cherie DeVaux)
Vitruvian Man (horse, 30-1 odds)
Cherie DeVaux (trainer of Golden Tempo)
Sources: CBS Sports
