Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will try to add a second jewel of the Triple Crown when he leaves the starting gate in the 2026 Belmont Stakes on Saturday (7:04 p.m. ET) at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Five weeks ago Golden Tempo capitalized on a pace meltdown and went from last to first to win the Derby at 23-1 odds. The connections of Golden Tempo decided to skip the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, to point to the Belmont.
For Saturday he is 9-2 in the 2026 Belmont Stakes odds. Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade is the 2-1 morning-line favorite, while Chief Wallabee, who finished fourth in the Derby, is the 3-1 second choice in the odds among the nine Belmont Stakes horses.
With several talented but lightly raced 3-year-olds set to leave the starting gate, you NEED to see what racing reporter and insider Michelle Yu, who's in upstate New York to cover the race, has to say before making any 2026 Belmont Stakes picks.
Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.
She started off 2025 by correctly going all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and she 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. She also hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
In March she nailed the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby. And on the Kentucky Derby undercard, she smashed two races: Crude Velocity's win in the Pat Day Mile and Stark Contrast's win in the American Turf.
For the 2026 Belmont Stakes, Yu has made her picks and constructed her bets. One surprise: She is completely fading Chief Wallabee, even though he is the 3-1 second choice.
Instead, Yu's top pick is a horse who can be "effective" regardless of the pace. She's also high on a double-digit longshot who "should sit a lovely trip." She is including these horses in her 2026 Belmont Stakes bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see her picks before locking in any of your own.
So which horse wins the 2026 Belmont Stakes? What double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Yu constructed her wagers? ... Join SportsLine right now to get Michelle Yu's 2026 Belmont Stakes picks and bets, all from the racing insider!
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