SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Belmont Stakes 2026 winner is Golden Tempo, who closed with a rush down the Saratoga stretch to capture the 158th running of the race on Saturday. Under jockey Jose Ortiz, the Kentucky Derby champion stumbled at the break, dropped to the back of the field, then unleashed a long rally to hold off Commandment at the wire. Race favorite Renegade finished third.
The win completes a Kentucky Derby and Belmont double for Golden Tempo in a five-week span. He did not run the Preakness, so the Triple Crown was never on the line, but taking two of the three crown jewels still puts him at the top of the 2026 horse racing season. Below are the full finishing order, how the bets paid out, and the history made by trainer Cherie DeVaux.
2026 Belmont Stakes Official Results
| Finish | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 🏆 | Golden Tempo | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux |
| 2nd 🥈 | Commandment | John Velazquez | Brad Cox |
| 3rd 🥉 | Renegade | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher |
| 4th | Chief Wallabee | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 5th | Emerging Market | Flavien Prat | Chad Brown |
| 6th | Growth Equity | Manny Franco | Chad Brown |
| 7th | Vitruvian Man | Antonio Fresu | Doug O’Neill |
| 8th | Ottinho | Dylan Davis | Chad Brown |
| 9th | Powershift | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher |
How the Bets Paid Out
Golden Tempo went off at 6-1, so the straight bets returned a healthy but not shocking number, while the favorite Renegade missing the top two kept the exotic tickets alive for closers. Here are the official win, place, and show payouts.
| Horse | Win ($2) | Place ($2) | Show ($2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Tempo | $14.00 | $7.32 | $3.88 |
| Commandment | – | $7.02 | $4.08 |
| Renegade | – | – | $2.52 |
The exotic wagers came home with the Derby winner on top and the favorite out of the top two. The winning combinations are confirmed below, with official mutuel dollar amounts still being finalized at publication. We will update them once the official chart posts.
| Wager | Winning Combination | $1 Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Exacta | 9-7 (Golden Tempo, Commandment) | Pending |
| Trifecta | 9-7-4 (add Renegade) | Pending |
| Superfecta | 9-7-4-3 (add Chief Wallabee) | Pending |
For context, here is how the exotic bets paid across the 2026 Triple Crown races that have official numbers. The Kentucky Derby was the windfall of the series, while the Preakness paid solidly.
| Race (2026) | $1 Exacta | $1 Trifecta | $1 Superfecta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Derby | $139.43 | $11,250.78 | $98,701.20 |
| Preakness Stakes | $53.60 | $597.10 | $2,377.80 |
| Belmont Stakes | Pending | Pending | Pending |
New to the exotics? An exacta is the top two finishers in exact order, a trifecta is the top three in order, and a superfecta is the top four in order. They pay more than a straight win bet because they are much harder to hit.
Cherie DeVaux’s Historic Hometown Win
The victory is a milestone for trainer Cherie DeVaux. After becoming the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner earlier this spring, she is now the second woman to train a Belmont Stakes winner, following Jena Antonucci’s win with Arcangelo in 2023. DeVaux was born in Saratoga Springs and launched her training career at this track, which made the hometown win deeply personal. Renegade, the beaten favorite, is trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.
A Measured Pace and a Late Charge
Unlike the fast early fractions at Churchill Downs five weeks earlier, Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile test was run at a more measured pace. After the early stumble left him near the rear, Ortiz kept Golden Tempo balanced and waited. As the field turned for home, the Derby winner found his closing gear and ran them down, stopping the clock in 2:03.49 to seal the win.
The Last Belmont at Saratoga
This card was the third and final consecutive running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The race was relocated upstate while its traditional home on the Queens and Long Island border underwent a full demolition and reconstruction. With the build on schedule, the third leg of the Triple Crown is set to return to a new Belmont Park in 2027, and the 1 1/2-mile distance is expected to come back with it.
Full results and chart data are available from the race organizer at the New York Racing Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
Golden Tempo won the 158th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, ridden by Jose Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux. The Kentucky Derby champion held off Commandment, with race favorite Renegade third.
Did Golden Tempo win the Triple Crown?
No. Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont but sat out the Preakness Stakes, so the Triple Crown was never on the line. The Belmont gave him two of the three Triple Crown races in 2026.
What was Golden Tempo’s winning time?
Golden Tempo covered the 1 1/4-mile distance in 2:03.49 on a fast track at Saratoga Race Course.
How much did Golden Tempo pay?
Golden Tempo paid $14.00 to win, $7.32 to place, and $3.88 to show on a $2 bet. Commandment paid $7.02 to place and $4.08 to show, and Renegade returned $2.52 to show. Exacta, trifecta, and superfecta mutuel amounts were still being finalized at publication.
Why is Cherie DeVaux’s win historic?
Earlier in 2026 she became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. With the Belmont, she became the second woman to train a Belmont Stakes winner, following Jena Antonucci with Arcangelo in 2023. DeVaux is a Saratoga Springs native who started her career at the track.
More Horse Racing & Triple Crown Resources
- 2026 Kentucky Derby Official Results – Golden Tempo’s first crown-jewel win.
- 2026 Preakness Stakes Final Results – the middle leg Golden Tempo skipped.
- 2026 Belmont Stakes Printable Betting Sheet – track the field and your tickets.
- Kentucky Derby Bingo Generator – free printable race-day bingo cards.
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