Once more, with feeling

Saratoga Race Course hosts the Belmont Stakes for the third (and final?) time as construction of the new Belmont Park nears completion. The old place gets a good one as Saturday’s field includes the first, second and fourth horses from the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago at Churchill Downs plus the Florida Derby winner and Peter Pan winner in a field of nine.

Post time Saturday is 7:04 p.m. on a 14-race card that starts at 11 a.m.

1. Vitruvian Man, 30-1

B. c., Vino Rosso-Caradini, Bernardini. Breeders: Glenn Sorgenstein, W.C. Racing. Owners: Glenn Sorgenstein, W.C. Racing, Run Fast Racing. Trainer: Doug O’Neill. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Keeneland maiden winner in October finished third in Santa Anita Derby, his only start of 2026. Will want a fast pace to close into, but should appreciate the 1 1/4 miles.

2. Powershift, 12-1

Dk. b./br. c., Constitution-Free Flying Soul, Quiet American. Breeder: Liberty Road Stable. Owner: Repole Stable. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Luis Saez. Cost $500,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September, but was unraced at 2. Strong second to Belmont rival Emerging Market in debut at Tampa Bay Downs in February, then a rough sixth in the Tampa Bay Derby. Rebounded with ripper maiden win at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. Gives away experience, but brings talent to the fray.

3. Chief Wallabee, 3-1

B. c., Constitution-A La Lucie, Medaglia d’Oro. Breeders/Owners: Mike and Katherine Ball. Trainer: Bill Mott. Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Debut winner in January at Gulfstream Park has been banging away at graded stakes since with a second in the Fountain of Youth, a third in the Florida Derby and a fourth in the Kentucky Derby when behind Saturday rivals Commandment (twice), Golden Tempo and Renegade. Practically guaranteed a better trip than his Derby run while eyeing Belmont repeat for trainer and jockey.

4. Renegade, 2-1

B. c., Into Mischief-Spice Is Nice, Curlin. Breeders: Robert and Lawana Low. Owners: Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Found quirky ways to lose maiden starts last year when third behind runaway winner It’s Our Time at Saratoga and disqualified from a score at Aqueduct in October. After closing 2025 with a second in the Remsen, he won the Sam Davis at Tampa in February and shined in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in March. Second to Belmont foe Golden Tempo (by a neck) in Kentucky after getting bounced around at the start. Gets a chance for reversal points in Triple Crown finale while looking to give trainer his fifth win in the classic.

5. Ottinho, 20-1

B. c., Quality Road-Quiet Giant, Giant’s Causeway. Breeder/Owner: Three Chimneys Farm. Trainer: Chad Brown. Jockey: Dylan Davis. Juvenile campaign included a maiden win going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct on New Year’s Eve while 2026 featured a second in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland. Winner of that, Further Ado, finished 11th in the Derby and opts for the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs Sunday instead of a Belmont try. Wins the pedigree race as a half-brother to Gun Runner. Sire and dam represented Virginia-breeder Ned Evans.

6. Growth Equity, 12-1

B. c., Nyquist-My Dear Venezuela, Wildcat Heir. Breeder: Stone Farm. Owner: Klaravich Stable. Trainer: Chad Brown. Jockey: Manny Franco. Second at Saratoga on debut last summer and an Aqueduct maiden winner in March. Won Grade 3 Peter Pan, producer of Belmont winners Arcangelo, Tonalist, A.P. Indy and Coastal among others.

7. Commandment, 6-1

B. c., Into Mischief-Sippican Harbor, Orb. Breeder: Lee Pokoik. Owner: Wathnan Racing. Trainer: Brad Cox. Jockey: John Velazquez. Sent off at 6-1 in the Derby, he finished seventh after a slow start. Came into that off four consecutive wins – a maiden, the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby. Jockey eyes third Belmont win, trainer his second. Dam won the 2018 Spinaway at Saratoga.

8. Emerging Market, 6-1

Ch. c., Candy Ride-Wild Empress, Empire Maker. Breeder: Stoneriggs Farm. Owner: Klaravich Stable. Trainer: Chad Brown. Jockey: Flavien Prat. Tenth in the Derby after losing a shoe in just the third start of his life. Gets back to a normal race (nine runners. vs. 18) in the Belmont after winning February maiden at Tampa and Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, over Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo.

9. Golden Tempo, 9-2

B. c., Curlin-Carrumba, Bernardini. Breeders/Owners: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. Trainer: Cherie DeVaux. Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Helped trainer make history as first woman to win the Kentucky Derby as a trainer. Came from last of 18 early while closing into fast pace and fighting past Renegade in the final stages to win by a neck. Came into that off similar late-running thirds in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby. Will likely have to be closer to pace, but also should have less traffic to navigate. Jockey won 2017 Belmont with Tapwrit and has been second three times. Dam broke her maiden at Saratoga in 2015.