2026 Belmont Stakes: Why Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo is a fade and a 12-1 longshot could be the play

Article excerpt

Golden Tempo, winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby, enters the Belmont Stakes as an underdog despite its Triple Crown credentials. Racing expert Gene Menez argues the horse should be faded, avoided by bettors, citing reasons that favor other contenders in the final leg of racing's most prestigious series. Menez identifies a 12-1 longshot as potentially offering superior value, suggesting the Derby winner's odds don't reflect its actual winning chances at Belmont Park.