Ocelli Passes on Belmont Stakes, Ohio Derby Becomes Summer Target
The 2026 Belmont Stakes field took another notable turn over the weekend as Ocelli’s connections opted to bypass the final leg of the Triple Crown and instead point toward the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown on June 20.
Trainer Whit Beckman made the decision after evaluating the colt’s progress following a half-mile work in :48.60 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. Rather than tackle another demanding Grade 1 assignment, Beckman believes the Ohio Derby presents a more realistic opportunity for the son of Connect to earn the first victory of his career.
Ocelli has become one of the more intriguing stories of this Triple Crown season despite still searching for a maiden-breaking score. The colt entered the Kentucky Derby attempting to accomplish something not seen since Brokers Tip captured the Run for the Roses in 1933 as a maiden. While he ultimately fell short of that historic feat, he delivered a memorable performance at Churchill Downs.
After settling 17th in the early stages of the Derby, Ocelli launched a sweeping rally and briefly surged to the lead approaching the sixteenth pole. The dream lasted only moments as Golden Tempo and Renegade proved strongest through the final yards, leaving Ocelli to finish a remarkable third at odds of 70-1. The effort represented the best Kentucky Derby finish by a maiden since Brokers Tip’s victory nearly a century ago.
Two weeks later, Ocelli returned in the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park but could not reproduce that breakthrough performance. He finished fourth behind winner Napoleon Solo, runner-up Iron Honor, and Chip Honcho.
Had Ocelli continued on to Saratoga, he would have been the only horse to compete in all three Triple Crown races this season. Instead, his connections will look to regroup and target a spot where a first career victory may be within reach.
Through eight starts, Ocelli owns a record of 0-for-8 with one second-place finish and four thirds. His résumé includes a third-place effort in the Wood Memorial (G1), and his Triple Crown performances have helped him compile earnings of $729,800 despite never reaching the winner’s circle.
With Ocelli no longer under consideration, the list of Belmont Stakes probables stands at nine horses: Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo, Derby runner-up Renegade, Powershift, Commandment, Chief Wallabee, Emerging Market, Growth Equity, Ottinho, and Vitruvian Man.
While the Belmont picture continues to take shape, Ocelli’s story remains one worth following. Few maidens have made as much noise on racing’s biggest stages, and a strong showing in the Ohio Derby could finally provide the breakthrough victory that has narrowly eluded him throughout a productive three-year-old campaign.
