Belmont Derby and Oaks 2026 Betting Preview: Ginger Joe’s Best Bets

21:06 Saratoga – Belmont Oaks Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1f Odds and Best Bets

• • Abashiri 13/8
  • Fitz Right 3/1
  • Imaginationthelady 11/2
  • Ultimate Love 8/1
  • Just Aloof 10/1
  • Kensington Lane 10/1
  • Faithful Departed 12/1
  • 25/1 Bar

The Belmont Oaks looks set to be a really good race, and I think there are a few runners who deserve plenty of consideration. The first one I want to mention is a big outsider that I think could easily outrun her odds.

That horse is Time To Dream at around 33/1 for Todd Fletcher. This is a filly that has shown nice form in patches, and there can be excuses made to why she didn’t finish even closer too. Three starts back, she was a close second in a Grade 3 at Tampa Bay, and last time out she was less than two lengths back of the second favorite here, Fitz Right.

I wouldn’t say she has shown us her full ability just yet, and coming out of gate two gives her a chance of getting away quickly. I don’t think she should be underestimated here.

Fitz Right, who beat her that day, is looking to make it four wins on the bounce. She’s improved with every one of those runs and hasn’t shown any signs of reaching her ceiling just yet either. This is a significant step up in class though, so she will need to continue that upward curve, but she is obviously a strong contender amongst this lineup.

The one I want to side with however, is the Godolphin filly Abashiri for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. She won on her only start as a two-year-old before being thrown straight into Group 1 company this season, and she’s acquitted herself really well.

She finished five lengths behind True Love in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket before improving again in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, where she was just three lengths behind Precise. That form has worked out extremely well, with Precise going on to win the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on her next start.

Considering Abashiri has had just three career runs, she’s already shown a very high level of ability and still looks a long way from the finished article. She has the profile of a filly with plenty more to come, and for me she’ll take a lot of beating. I’m just not sure this race has the overall depth of quality to stop her if she produces another step forward. Abashiri looks rock solid to me.

22:00 Saratoga – Belmont Derby Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1f Odds and Best Bets

• • Touch Of Fire 3/1
  • Pacific Avenue 4/1
  • Title Role 4/1
  • West End Kid 11/2
  • Remember Mamba 6/1
  • 12/1 Bar

Touch Of Fire heads the market here and represents the powerful Juddmonte operation. He looks open to plenty of improvement, and last time out he comfortably beat the reopposing Tiernanogue at Churchill Downs.

He travelled strongly throughout and justified short odds with a little over a three-length victory. Visually it was very impressive, but it’s still difficult to know exactly how strong that form is. This race should tell us much more about his true ability, but with his ceiling still largely unknown, I find it hard to back him with complete confidence.

Title Role and Pacific Avenue, on the other hand, bring much stronger pieces of established form into the race. Title Role got the better of Pacific Avenue when they met at Meydan back in February before going on to win the German 2,000 Guineas. For me, that’s stronger form than anything Touch Of Fire has achieved so far.

Pacific Avenue may have finished behind Title Role in Dubai, but he’s since enhanced his own credentials with a third-place finish behind Gstaad in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. That’s another piece of high-quality form, and there’s every chance it stacks up just as well as the German Guineas won by Title Role.

There really isn’t much between the pair, and in my opinion they should be the first and second favorites for this race. If I had to side with one, though, I’d just about give the edge to Pacific Avenue for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. I

think this track will suit him really well, and the extra furlong also looks likely to play to his strengths. I think the boys in blue have an outstanding chance of taking both Grade 1 races on the card.