The 2026 Triple Crown will reach its conclusion at 7:04 p.m. ET on Saturday night with the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
No. 4 Renegade (2-1) is the morning-line favorite just over a month after being tabbed as the chalk for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Mike Repole’s star finished second to No. 9 Golden Tempo (9-2) in the Run for the Roses, but Renegade overcame so many issues and ran such an impressive race that he’s a much shorter price for the “Test of a Champion.”
No. 3 Chief Wallabee (3-1), who was a wise-guy pick at the Derby and finished a game fourth at Churchill Downs, is the second choice.
It’s very likely that those three horses will attract plenty of love from the betting public, which should allow us to find value on a few other contenders.
2026 Belmont Stakes picks
Best bet to win: No. 8 Emerging Market (6-1)
While we have a pretty good idea of the ceiling for Renegade, Golden Tempo and Chief Wallabee, there may be more to Emerging Market than meets the eye.
He beat Golden Tempo at the Louisiana Derby and was right in the thick of the action on the First Saturday in May, but he lost a shoe down the stretch and fell into obscurity with a 10th-place finish.
Who knows what would have happened had he kept his footwear?
He’s already proven he can handle the conditions and the company, and his price should hold because his finish at the Derby pales in comparison to his competitors in this field.
Use in exactas, trifectats: No. 3 Chief Wallabee (3-1), No. 6 Growth Equity (12-1)
The case for Chief Wallabee is pretty straightforward. He ran an impressive race at the Kentucky Derby. He never fell off the pace and was able to maintain his stride to finish fourth behind Golden Tempo, Renegade, and Ocelli. He’s a shorter price in this field, but this number could grow as the 1-2 finishers from Churchill Downs get pounded by bettors.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
Unlike the Kentucky Derby, this isn’t the type of race where it makes sense to get cute with the long shots, but if you’re looking to sprinkle one, it would be Growth Equity.
He didn’t face the stiffest competition in the Peter Pan Stakes in May, but he took care of business and did enough to make you wonder if another step forward would make him a contender in this field.
Most importantly, the price will be appealing.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
