TRAINERS OF TOP CONTENDERS SEE A FORMFUL BELMONT … AND NEED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE

Hallandale Beach, FL, May 28, 2026 – The NTRA hosted its final Triple Crown media conference of 2026 this afternoon with major players Cherie Deveaux Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox on hand to talk about their horses and the state of the game.

Of course, this is the third year the race will be held at 10 furlongs in Saratoga due to the limitations of staging a mile and a half event. Fortunately, Big Sandy and its mile and a half dirt circumference will host Belmont 159– once again worthy of its Test of the Champion status.

As for the dynamics of the race, the trainers expect the pace to be moderate but fair except for rushing into contention in the first-quarters mile with a relatively short run into the first turn. No one expects any major issues.”

“The smaller field should have Golden Tempo a  little more forward without Jose (Ortiz having to go to plan B to have him closer,” said Decaux. “We don’t want to leave him with too much to do but we have no plans to alter his [late run] style.”

Todd Pletcher has a few more options with Derby runner-up Renegade and recent impressive maiden-breaker Powershift.

“Renegade is adaptable to a slower pace and with a moderate pace expected, Powershift, who always trained like top of the class and his good breeze in company with Renegade gave us confidence to try this. He should be forward given the dynamics” Pletcher said.

With “the perception that a horse’s quality is based on their last race, I do think Commandment is the ‘forgotten horse’.” Cox answered. “There’s not as much pace as there was in the Derby. I expect he’ll be more forward here. Of course, as in any race, he must break cleanly.”

Given the all-star ability of the riders, this also figures to be a ‘jockey’s race’. Each jockey aboard the main contenders will ride the race at least as much as they do their mounts. R

Riders sometimes will be passengers — until it’s time to shift into pilot mode.

As for the Triple Crown and current state of the game, there’s perfect alignment of where these horsemen and horse woman stand. All respect and love the Triple Crown and what it’s done for the sport and for engaging sports fans if different stripes, but all understand the realities of the modern game.

“I love the tradition of five weeks to crown a champion, but change does seem inevitable,” said Devaux “I skipped the Preakness, no one likes the two weeks [between Derby and Preakness]”

“The spacing must change and I’ve been saying this for years, offered Cox. I’m all for the history but that was a different time. The series must change. It would help the animal a tremendous amount.”

And this from Pletcher: “The Belmont is the ultimate race in the series. I have been a traditionalist, but the industry needs change. Now’s the time we have to improve it—a month and a month would work. The simple solution is Maay Jone, and July.”