Belmont Stakes 2026: Expert Jody Demling

The 2026 Belmont Stakes may have quite a Kentucky Derby feel to it, on the course, anyway. With renovations under way at Belmont Park, the race has been moved upstate in New York to Saratoga Race Course. That means the Belmont Stakes 2026 is reducing its length from the traditional 1 ½ miles, down to 1 ¼ miles. That's the same distance as the Kentucky Derby.

The latest 2026 Belmont Stakes odds are favoring horses that raced at Churchill Downs on May 2 for the Derby. Three horses are at 9-2 or lower odds, including Renegade (2-1 odds), who took second in Louisville, Ky. Derby winner Golden Tempo is right behind at 3-1, while Chief Wallabee, who was fourth back then, is at 9-2. Before making any 2026 Belmont Stakes picks, be sure to see the 2026 Belmont Stakes predictions and best bets from SportsLine's elite horse racing expert Jody Demling .

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling hit the top three finishers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby in the correct order. He also called 11 of the last 22 Preakness winners and predicted the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last eight years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. Anyone who has followed him on  horse racing betting sites could be way up.

Now, with the 2026 Belmont Stakes field set, Demling is sharing his 2026 Belmont Stakes betting picks and 2026 Belmont Stakes predictions over at SportsLine.  Go to SportsLine to see them .

Top 2026 Belmont Stakes predictions

One notable surprise from Demling's detailed writeup at SportsLine: Golden Tempo is not part of his Belmont Stakes picks. The Cherie DeVaux-trained colt has five career races and has never finished outside of the Top 3. That includes legitimated stakes races such as the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes.

But Demling believes the Derby was perfectly set up for a closer such as Golden Tempo. The 18 horses kept each other in check, and Tempo rallied for last in an impressive, if not improbable, surge for the victory. The Belmont Stakes could have half as many horses, and is far less likely to have a last-to-first push at the end. With so many Belmont Stakes contenders in the mix, Demling can't choose them all. Golden Tempo looks like it may be among the horses cut.  See which horses to back at SportsLine .

How to make 2026 Belmont Stakes picks, bets

Demling is especially high on an epic longshot who "will make a big jump" to win it all. Anyone who backs this sleeper pick could hit it big.  Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Belmont Stakes leaderboard, over at SportsLine .

Which horse wins the Belmont Stakes 2026, and which stunning longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Belmont Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the Belmont Stakes, all from the expert who has nailed four of the last eight winners .

2026 Belmont Stakes odds

Horse Odds Projection Renegade 2-1 SEE PICKS Golden Tempo 3-1 SEE PICKS Chief Wallabee 9-2 SEE PICKS Commandment 6-1 SEE PICKS Emerging Market 8-1 SEE PICKS Poweshift 12-1 SEE PICKS Growth Equity 15-1 SEE PICKS Ocelli 20-1 SEE PICKS Ottinho 20-1 SEE PICKS Vitruvian Man 30-1 SEE PICKS

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_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/2026-belmont-stakes-odds-date-predictions-expert-who-called-4-of-last-8-winners-makes-horse-racing-picks/)._