Renegade, and Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., after a stunning win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, on February 7, 2026, at Tampa Bay Downs. Tampa Bay Downs/Elizabeth Swarzman
The third leg of the Triple Crown — The Belmont Stakes. Widely known as ‘The Test of a Champion,’ as the distance is traditionally a daunting 1 1/2 miles.
The 2026 Triple Crown racing season has brought forth some changes; The Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Racecourse for the third consecutive year, while Belmont Park continues to undergo renovations — which will be completed by the 2027 running of the Belmont Stakes.
The 158th running of the Belmont Stakes will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The typical grueling 1 1/2-mile race is now going to be a 1 1/4-mile distance — leaving criticisms by the public up in the air for whoever may be crowned the champion.
Although a Triple Crown Winner is not in the cards for the racing world this year, we mustn’t deny the talent that will step afoot the field this Saturday.
The nine thoroughbreds ready to attempt to conquer the Grade I 158th Belmont Stakes are the top 3-year-olds in the country — followed by jockeys, trainers, and owners who continue to leave their mark.
What makes this nine-horse field even more memorable is the connection to Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack, located in Oldsmar, FL.
Three out of the nine horses in the upcoming Belmont Stakes have run at Tampa Bay Downs during their 2025–26 racing season, while two have claimed victories.
Out of the second post, Powershift, mounted by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., ran a debut second in the MSW run on February 7, 2026, at Tampa Bay Downs. Finishing just short of first against Emerging Market — Pletcher, a legacy trainer, will have this horse set on the finish line come Saturday.
Powershift will be mounted by jockey Luis Saez during the running of the 158th Belmont Stakes. The Constitution colt would claim his first Stakes victory of his career with a win on Saturday.
Out of the fourth post, Renegade, mounted by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., claimed victory in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes run on February 7, 2026, at Tampa Bay Downs.
Renegade is currently the morning-line favorite going into Saturday, with odds of 2–1. Irad Ortiz Jr., alongside trainer Todd Pletcher, are looking to add to their career victories of The Belmont Stakes. The Into Mischief colt may be their key to success.
Out of the eighth post, Emerging Market, mounted by jockey Flavien Prat, claimed victory in the MSW on February 7, 2026, at Tampa Bay Downs — crossing the finish line just slightly ahead of Powershift.
Emerging Market will have jockey Flavien Prat mounted on Saturday, alongside trainer Chad Brown — Brown, hoping to claim his first Belmont Stakes victory.
While the 152nd Kentucky Derby Winner, Golden Tempo, is set to run out of the ninth post on Saturday, Renegade, who finished second behind Golden Tempo, remains the morning-line favorite.
Tampa Bay Downs is Florida’s only West Coast thoroughbred racetrack — having just celebrated their 100th live-racing season.
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Tampa Bay Downs off-season hours offer simulcast racing, poker and golf every day! Simulcast racing begins at 11 a.m., The Silks Poker Room opens at 10 a.m., and The Downs Golf Range opens at 8:30 a.m.
