Handicapper Michelle Yu Fades Chief Wallabee in 2026 Belmont Stakes Predictions
With the 2026 Belmont Stakes set for Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, elite handicapper Michelle Yu has released her betting analysis, departing from the market favourites to highlight a longshot opportunity.
Elite handicapper Michelle Yu has released her betting predictions for the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, scheduled for Saturday with a post time of 7:04 p.m. ET. Yu has departed from the betting markets, which list Renegade as the 2-1 favourite, Chief Wallabee at 3-1, and Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo at 9-2. Yu has faded Chief Wallabee, citing a lack of graded stakes wins, and instead recommends a pace-effective horse and a double-digit longshot. Yu, a SportsLine expert, recently correctly predicted the trifecta in the March 2026 Arkansas Derby.
The current betting favourites remain Renegade at 2-1, Chief Wallabee at 3-1, and Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo at 9-2. However, Demling has excluded Golden Tempo from his selections, citing concerns about the horse's suitability for the specific race setup compared to the conditions at Churchill Downs.
"I still don't believe he's the best of this bunch and I don't think he gets a perfect set up here like he di
Yu’s previous 2025 successes include predicting wins in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Citizen Bull), Saudi Cup (Forever Young), San Felipe Stakes (Journalism), Arkansas Derby (Sandman), Churchill Downs Stakes (Mindframe), and the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. She also hit the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic in August.
Yu cites Chief Wallabee’s lack of graded stakes wins as a reason for fading him, noting he has failed to win in three career graded stakes starts despite placing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Florida Derby. Yu describes Chief Wallabee as a "wise guy horse" for whom "we are always making excuses."
Yu’s top pick is described as a horse that should be "effective" regardless of pace, and she highlights a "massive double-digit longshot" that "should sit a lovely trip." Specific names of Yu’s top pick and the longshot are not disclosed in the source text; readers are directed to SportsLine for the full selections.
