Belmont Stakes 2026 Analysis (6-6-26)

The final jewel of the Triple Crown arrives at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 6, as a talented field of nine three-year-olds competes in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. With a $2 million purse on the line and a distance of 1¼ miles to conquer, this year’s Belmont shapes up as a fascinating tactical battle where pace and trip could determine the winner.

A Different Race Than the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby featured a fast pace that completely collapsed, setting the stage for deep closers. That scenario allowed Golden Tempo to rally from last place and score a upset at 23-1 odds.

The Belmont Stakes appears much different.

There is no clear speed demon in this field, and the pace is expected to be moderate. Horses with tactical speed—those capable of sitting just behind the leaders—could have a significant advantage. Deep closers may find themselves with too much ground to make up in the stretch.

Main Contenders

Chief Wallabee enters the Belmont after finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby, a performance that may have been better than it appears on paper.

The Bill Mott trainee encountered some traffic issues and never enjoyed a completely clean trip at Churchill Downs. Despite those challenges, he remained competitive throughout and finished respectably against the best three-year-olds in the country.

Several factors make him particularly appealing in the Belmont:

• Tactical speed that should allow him to secure ideal positioning early.
• A favorable inside draw in post three.
• Continued improvement since adding blinkers.
• Strong connections with trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado.
• A focused training schedule at Saratoga specifically targeting this race.

Mott and Alvarado successfully executed a similar Belmont campaign last year, and the team appears to have followed a proven blueprint once again.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Saratoga Race Course Stakes Analysis (6-5-26)

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival continues at Saratoga on Friday with a pair of graded stakes races that feature talented fillies and mares on both turf and dirt. After reviewing the Complete Digest speed figures, pace projections, and recent form, here are my thoughts on the Grade 2 Wonder Again Stakes and the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes.

Race 9: Grade 2 Wonder Again Stakes

Purse: $300,000
Distance: 1 1/16 Miles (Inner Turf)
Field: Three-Year-Old Fillies

The Wonder Again Stakes drew a competitive field of nine, although main-track-only entrant Pashmina is unlikely to run since this race is expected to remain on the turf.

Main Contenders

The Digest numbers point clearly toward Fitz Right as the horse to beat. She owns the top projected Fire Number (101), the highest Comprehensive Performance Rating (153), and shares the best Fast Fig and final-time ratings among the turf runners.

More importantly, her form pattern is exactly what handicappers like to see. Her final-time ratings have improved in every career start, progressing from 93 to 95, then 104, 110, and finally a career-best 132 in her most recent stakes victory at Aqueduct.

Fitz Right enters this race undefeated in two starts this season, winning those races by a combined margin of more than eight lengths. The daughter of Charlatan appears to be developing at the right time, and Flavien Prat returns to ride for trainer Chad Brown.

Coach Missoula could be dangerous if she secures an uncontested lead. She enters off back-to-back victories, including a stakes win at Laurel Park, and has never finished worse than third in a turf route.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest 

Saratoga Race Course Stakes Analysis (6-4-26)

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival continues at Saratoga on Thursday with a pair of graded turf stakes drawing competitive fields. Using the past performances and numbers from Today’s Racing Digest, I’ve analyzed each event and identified top contenders and live longshots.

Race 8: Grade 2 Intercontinental Stakes

$250,000 | Fillies & Mares, 4YO & Up | 5½ Furlongs (Turf)

The Grade 2 Intercontinental Stakes features a deep field of turf sprinters, with several runners possessing early speed. Horses such as Twirling Queen, Gratefully, Roja, and In Our Time are all expected to be involved in the pace, setting up what could be a contested early tempo.

Top Contenders: Shoot It True & In Our Time

Shoot It True enters the race in excellent form after finishing second in both of her starts this season. Despite receiving limited pace assistance in those races, she closed well and earned competitive speed figures.

One of the strongest angles in her favor is her affinity for Saratoga. She is undefeated in two starts over the course, winning both races impressively last summer by more than three lengths each. Her recent final time ratings of 141 and 143, combined with Fire numbers of 94 and 96, indicate she remains capable of another strong performance.

With multiple speed horses entered, the race shape could favor her late-running style. The addition of jockey Juan Hernandez is an interesting development. He is 2-for-2 with Wesley Ward recently.

In Our Time exits a Grade 2 victory in the Giant’s Causeway and owns the strongest recent speed figures in the field. Her 149 final-time rating last out is the highest among the major contenders, and her tactical speed should allow her to secure an ideal stalking trip behind the leaders.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Belmont Stakes 2026 Video Update (6-1-26)

Belmont Stakes 2026 video preview. Belmont Stakes field: 1 - Vitruvian Man (30-1), 2 - Powershift (12-1), 3 - Chief Wallabee (3-1), 4 - Renegade (2-1), 5 - Ottinho (20-1), 6 - Growth Equity (12-1), 7 - Commandment (6-1), 8 - Emerging Market (6-1), 9 - Golden Tempo (9-2).

The Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 6, 2026. 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.     

Saratoga Race Course Stakes Analysis (6-3-26)

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course, and the card features three competitive New York-bred stakes races. Using the past performances and proprietary ratings from Today’s Racing Digest, I’ve analyzed each event and identified my top selections.

The races covered include the Kingston Stakes (Race 4), Mike Lee Stakes (Race 8), and Commentator Stakes (Race 9). Here is a closer look at each race and the horses that stand out.

Race 4: Kingston Stakes

$200,000 | New York-breds | 1 1/16 Miles (Inner Turf)

The Kingston Stakes brings together a mix of proven New York-bred turf performers, highlighted by multiple graded stakes winner Spirit of St. Louis and the improving George Briggs.

Key Contenders

George Briggs
Trainer Miguel Clement appears to have this horse moving in the right direction. In his first start for the barn, George Briggs stalked the pace and scored a convincing optional claiming victory at Aqueduct. His Today’s Racing Digest CPR (Comprehensive Performance Rating) figures of 127, 138, and 137 in his last three starts are the strongest recent numbers in the field.

George Briggs possesses an ideal turf-running style. He can stay within striking range of the pace while conserving energy before unleashing a strong finishing kick. That combination often proves successful in Saratoga turf races.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Belmont Stakes 2026 Video Update (5-30-26)

Belmont Stakes 2026 video preview. Early hopefuls: Chief Wallabee, Commandment, Emerging Market, Golden Tempo, Growth Equity, Ocelli, Ottinho, Powershift, Renegade, Vitruvian Man.

The Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 6, 2026. 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.     

Churchill Downs Stakes Analysis (5-30-26)

Saturday’s Churchill Downs card features three competitive graded stakes races on the main track, and I’ll break down each one using the pace analysis, trip notes, and figures from past performances provided by Today’s Racing Digest.

The races covered in this analysis include the Grade 2 Shawnee Stakes, Grade 3 Aristides Stakes, and Grade 3 Blame Stakes. I’ll go through the contenders, discuss the projected race shape, and identify the horses I believe offer the strongest chances based on form, pace setup, and Digest ratings.

Race 6 — Grade 2 Shawnee Stakes

Distance: 1 1/16 Miles
Purse: $300,000
Division: Fillies & Mares

Main Contenders

Splendora enters as the morning-line favorite for Bob Baffert and looks like the horse to beat if she rebounds from her disappointing effort in the Derby City Distaff. Prior to that race, she had been exceptionally sharp, posting multiple strong Digest figures including back-to-back 155 ratings. Her Grade 1 Beholder Mile victory at Santa Anita proved she can handle two turns effectively, and her Del Mar form last year was outstanding.

While the recent Churchill defeat raises questions, she has trained forwardly over the surface since that race and retains Flavien Prat. If she returns to her best form, she is clearly fast enough to win.

Immersive is the horse I believe still has upside. Brad Cox has done an excellent job managing her career, and she has never finished outside the exacta in eight starts. Her comeback effort at seven furlongs looked more like a prep than a target race, and stretching back out around two turns should help significantly.

She owns tactical speed, draws the outside post, and gets Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. Her previous Churchill performances fit well against this group, and her progression suggests another move forward is possible second off the layoff.

Majestic Oops is a hard-trying mare who consistently picks up checks at this level. She exits a respectable effort in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom and already owns a Grade 2 victory this season in the Azeri Stakes. Her consistency makes her usable underneath in exotics.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest