At Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Renegade, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby, emerges as the 2-1 favorite for the 158th Belmont Stakes following the post position draw on Monday. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt, set to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., will start from post position No. 4. Renegade narrowly lost the Derby to Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux, who made history as the first woman to train a Derby winner. Golden Tempo, the 9-2 third favorite, will break from the No. 9 post with Jose Ortiz aboard in the nine-horse field.
DeVaux, who hails from Saratoga Springs and began her career there, aims to secure two Triple Crown victories in the same year. Golden Tempo returns to racing after the decision to skip the Preakness Stakes. DeVaux noted that Golden Tempo may stay towards the back at the start of the race before making his move.
Bill Mott’s Chief Wallabee, who finished fourth in the Derby, is the second favorite at 3-1 and will start from post No. 3. Mott, who won last year’s Derby and Belmont with Sovereignty, trusts jockey Junior Alvarado to secure another Belmont victory. Mott commented that Chief Wallabee appears to be progressing well since the Derby and hasn’t regressed.
This Belmont Stakes marks the final one held at Saratoga during Belmont Park’s renovations and features a notable rematch between Golden Tempo and Renegade. New York-based Chad Brown enters the most runners, including Derby tenth-place finisher Emerging Market at 6-1, with Flavien Prat as jockey. Brown, still seeking his first Belmont victory, also has Ottinho (20-1) and Growth Equity (12-1) in the race. Brown expressed optimism about Emerging Market’s condition despite a challenging Derby.
The remainder of the field includes Brad Cox’s Commandment (6-1), Doug O’Neill’s longshot Vitruvian Man (30-1), and Pletcher’s other contender Powershift (12-1). Notably, no horses from the Preakness, including winner Napoleon Solo, are in this year’s Belmont field.
Fan Take: This Belmont Stakes lineup promises a thrilling showdown that could dramatically shift the Triple Crown landscape, especially with historic figures like Cherie DeVaux in the spotlight. For horse racing fans, it underscores the sport’s rich tradition blended with fresh narratives, offering both competitive excitement and opportunities to celebrate milestone achievements.
Source: www.espn.com
