Jody Demling Fades 9-2 Golden Tempo in 2026 Belmont Stakes Picks
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 6
Jody Demling Fades 9-2 Golden Tempo in 2026 Belmont Stakes Picks
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 6
Summary
Golden Tempo is absent from Jody Demling’s top 2026 Belmont Stakes bets despite the colt entering Saturday’s race off a Kentucky Derby win at 9-2 odds.
Demling argues Saratoga’s 1 1/4-mile setup and a smaller nine-horse field should produce less pace, undermining the deep-closing trip that fueled Golden Tempo’s Derby rally from last to first.
Renegade enters as the 2-1 morning-line favorite after finishing no worse than third in six career starts, with Chief Wallabee next at 3-1 and Commandment and Emerging Market at 6-1.
Saturday’s 158th Belmont Stakes is again being run at Saratoga Race Course rather than Belmont Park, with post time around 7:04 p.m. ET and scattered storms possible.
A Golden Tempo victory would make him only the 13th horse to win the Derby and Belmont in the same year without sweeping the Triple Crown.