2026 Belmont Stakes: Win, place and exacta picks from horse racing guru

Saratoga Race Course will host the final leg of the Triple Crown one last time when the starting gate opens for the 2026 Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Because of a multimillion-dollar renovation project to Belmont Park, the traditional home of the Belmont Stakes, Saratoga has hosted the race the last two years. However with the project nearly complete, the race is set to return to Long Island next year. 

For Saturday Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the 2026 Belmont Stakes odds. Chief Wallabee (3-1), Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (9-2), Commandment (6-1) and Emerging Market (6-1) round out the top five choices on the odds board among the nine Belmont Stakes horses. Post time for the Belmont Stakes 2026 is 7:04 p.m. ET.

Before locking in any 2026 Belmont Stakes bets, you NEED to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 41 Triple Crown races. He nailed Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby at odds of 2-1. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal's win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure.

Hochman delivered exceptional handicapping results during the summer 2025 racing season at two of the country's premier tracks, Saratoga and Del Mar. His combined 65.7% win rate across the two tracks represents elite-level performance that significantly exceeds industry benchmarks for professional handicappers. Join here to see what he's picking for Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

While a slew of horses could hit the board in the 2026 Belmont Stakes, Hochman has studied the field and revealed his picks. 

One surprise: Hochman's top pick is not Renegade, even though he is the 2-1 favorite. "While he is widely regarded as the most talented 3-year-old in training, his closing running style places him at a severe tactical disadvantage in this smaller, moderate-paced field," Hochman told SportsLine.

Instead Hochman's top pick is a horse with an "elite" late pace. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horse it is before making any 2026 Belmont Stakes picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Belmont Stakes? And how has Hochman constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get Jeff Hochman's 2026 Belmont Stakes picks, all from the expert who has NAILED Triple Crown races!