Belmont Derby Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2026 Belmont Derby Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2026 (G1) Belmont Derby is set for July 4 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Belmont Derby Stakes Preview
- Race: Belmont Derby Stakes
- Purse: $750,000
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles
- Track: Saratoga Race Course
- Date: July 4, 2026
- Post Time: 5:20 PM ET
- Live: Belmont Derby Stakes Odds: Click Here
Before we can give you our expert 2026 Belmont Derby Stakes free pick, we have to break down the entries! In fact, we’d love to hear from you after you’ve given this post a read to see if you see an angle that we don’t!
Past 10 Belmont Stakes Winners
- 2025 – Test Score
- 2024 – Trikari
- 2023 – Far Bridge
- 2022 – Classic Causeway
- 2021 – Bolshoi Ballet
- 2020 – Gufo
- 2019 – Henley’s Joy
- 2018 – Catholic Boy
- 2017 – Oscar Performance
- 2016 – Deauville
2026 Belmont Derby Stakes Handicapping
Saratoga Race Track kicks off their summer meet this weekend, and the excellent Saturday card includes four graded stakes, including the (G1) Belmont Derby Stakes.
Typically the race would be held at Belmont Park , but with that facility not re-opening until September, for the second year in a row the race will be run at Saratoga.
The Belmont Derby Stakes is an invitational race and not to be confused with the Belmont Stakes. While the Belmont Stakes is run on the dirt, the Belmont Derby is run on the turf at a distance of 1 1/8 miles. The race has drawn a solid field of 10 three-year-olds with no clear-cut favourite and offers some excellent wagering value.
Odds listed here are provided by the Saratoga track oddsmaker.
2026 Belmont Derby Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: West End Kid Race Odds: 3-1
The tepid morning line favourite, West End Kid comes in on a three-race win streak, the most recent of those a win in the (G2) Pennine Ridge Stakes, going 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga inner turf course.
In that one he tracked just off a moderate early pace and went to the lead at the top of the stretch. He won by 1 1/4 lengths over two others he’ll meet here again.
2026 Belmont Derby Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Remember Mamba Race Odds: 7-2
Remember Mamba was an easy winner on debut last October at Churchill Downs at this 1 1/8 distance. Since then he’s run three times at slightly shorter distances, winning two of those and running second last out in the (G1) American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs.
The stretch out in distance should help his late-running style, although he needs to be able to bear down in the stretch drive as he tends to drift around while racing for the wire.
Touch Of Fire Race Odds: 5-1
The lightly raced Touch Of Fire has made the best of only four lifetime starts, winning three and running second in the other.
He scored his first stakes win last out at this 1 1/8 miles distance in the Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs in late May. There he pressed a solid pace early before taking over in the stretch and clearing off to win by three lengths.
Pacific Avenue Race Odds: 6-1
Making his US debut, Irish-bred Pacific Avenue ships over after out running his 40-1 odds when finishing third in the Group 1 2000 Guineas on his home soil.
He’s been competitive running with top-class company overseas and should handle the firmer going on this side of the pond although distance may be the problem as he has yet to race further than a mile.
Here’s My 2026 Belmont Derby Stakes Free Pick
As mentioned earlier this is shaping up to be an excellent betting race, and in addition to those listed above, there are at least one or two others at higher odds that are in with a shot.
I think Touch Of Fire has a lot of upside and as opposed to some others has already proven himself at the distance. The Audubon was run at a fairly quick pace that he handled with ease and with some hot weather expected at Saratoga the next couple of days he should get a firm and fast turf to run on.
Full Field: 2026 Belmont Derby Stakes Odds
By post position
- #1 – Blackmail 12-1
- #2 – Bottas 10-1
- #3 – Remember Mamba 7-2
- #4 – Third Coast 20-1
- #5 – Turf Star 30-1
- #6 – Pacific Avenue 6-1
- #7 – Tiernanogue 10-1
- #8 – West End Kid 3-1
- #9 – Title Role 5-1
- #10 – Touch Of Fire 5-1
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