Demling Fades 9-2 Golden Tempo in 2026 Belmont Stakes Picks
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 5
Demling Fades 9-2 Golden Tempo in 2026 Belmont Stakes Picks
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 5
Summary
Jody Demling’s newly released Belmont Stakes picks single out 9-2 Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo as a horse to fade ahead of Saturday’s race.
Demling argues Golden Tempo benefited from a Derby setup that favored a deep closer and says the 1 1/4-mile Belmont at Saratoga is unlikely to unfold the same way.
Saratoga’s shortened configuration — used for a third straight year while Belmont Park is rebuilt — has compressed the market, with five horses listed at 6-1 or shorter.
Renegade is the 2-1 favorite after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, followed by Chief Wallabee at 3-1, with Commandment and Emerging Market both at 6-1.
Demling also touts a double-digit longshot backed by a prominent trainer, extending a record that includes four Belmont winners in the last eight years.