Ocelli bypasses Belmont Stakes 2026 for Ohio Derby

Ocelli will skip Saturday's Belmont Stakes 2026 and instead run in the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 20, trainer Whit Beckman told Daily Racing Form.

The move takes Ocelli — a maiden who ran third in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 and fourth in the Preakness on May 16 — out of the Triple Crown's final leg. Beckman said Sunday he weighed two hard races two weeks apart, the depth of the Belmont field and a shortage of early speed. A closer, Ocelli may have been compromised by the slow Preakness pace, finishing 7 1/4 lengths behind Napoleon Solo.

"I don't see it setting up from a pace standpoint," Beckman told DRF. "I think we could be closer to the pace and the horse would run well, but I think I'm going to pick a spot that's not quite as tough and angle into the summer with hopefully a win under his belt."

Ocelli worked a half-mile in 48.6 seconds Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. Beckman said the Ohio Derby shaped up as the better fit. "The work was fine. I just feel like it's a better spot where we're going to have a better shot to win," he said.

His exit ensures no horse will run in all three Triple Crown races this year. Incredibolt and Robusta were the other two starters to contest both the Derby and Preakness. Barring late additions, the Belmont will go with nine.

Beckman expects a deeper test than the 14-horse Preakness, which had three graded-stakes winners. "You're getting a condensed version of the Derby with the most brilliant ones from the early prep season," he said.

The probable Belmont lineup includes Golden Tempo, who won the Lecomte (G3) and the Kentucky Derby; Renegade, winner of the Sam Davis and the Arkansas Derby (G1); and Commandment, who took the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1). Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Emerging Market, Kentucky Derby fourth Chief Wallabee, Growth Equity, Ottinho, Powershift and Vitruvian Man complete the group.

Ocelli reached the Derby by running third in the Wood Memorial (G2) in April. The longest shot on the board at 70-1, he closed from far back to finish one length behind Golden Tempo, who edged Renegade by a neck.

Entries close Sunday afternoon, but post positions will not be drawn until Monday at 5 p.m. EDT at an event in downtown Saratoga.