You might be looking for Belmont Park today and noticed something feels a little off. If you’re standing in Elmont looking for the track, you’re basically looking at a construction site. It’s no secret that the "Big A" (Aqueduct) is pulling all the weight while Belmont undergoes its massive $455 million facelift. So, when we talk about race results Belmont Park today, we’re really talking about the winter meet action happening over at Aqueduct.
It was a cold one in Ozone Park this Sunday, January 18, 2026. The track was fast. The handle was solid. Honestly, it was a day for the favorites in the early card, but things got spicy once the claiming races hit the back half. If you had Ruben Silvera or Manuel Franco on your ticket, you probably walked away feeling pretty good.
What Actually Happened with Race Results Belmont Park Today
The day kicked off with New York Scrappy taking the opener. It wasn't even close. Manuel Franco guided the 5-year-old gelding to a comfortable win, paying out $5.76. If you’re a chalk player, that was your bread and butter right there. But the real story of the early afternoon was Full Pour in Race 2. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Breaking from the rail under Jaime Rodriguez, Full Pour clocked a mile in a way that made the $7.28 payout feel like a gift.
The Mid-Card Shakeup
Race 4 was where the parlays went to die for a lot of folks. Jackie the Joker came in at 7-1. That’s a "nice" price for a horse that basically toyed with the field. Ridden by Ruben Silvera, Jackie the Joker ignored the pressure from Problematica and pulled away late. The $18.74 win price was the highest of the day so far.
- Race 1: New York Scrappy ($5.76) - Franco just timed it perfectly.
- Race 2: Full Pour ($7.28) - Total dominance on the lead.
- Race 3: Princess Ny ($11.88) - Lezcano found a gap that didn't exist.
- Race 4: Jackie the Joker ($18.74) - The upset of the afternoon.
- Race 5: Slay Sadie Slay ($5.56) - Flavien Prat doing Flavien Prat things.
The exacta in Race 4—the 4-1 combo—paid out $26.66. Not a life-changing score, but enough to keep you in the game for the Late Pick 4.
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The Jockey Standings and Why It Matters
You can't talk about New York racing right now without mentioning Flavien Prat. He’s currently leading the meet with 16 wins out of 43 starts. That is a 37% clip. It’s insane. Most jockeys would sell their soul for a 20% win rate.
| Jockey | Starts | Wins | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavien Prat | 43 | 16 | 37.2% |
| Jaime Rodriguez | 51 | 12 | 23.5% |
| Jose Lezcano | 36 | 10 | 27.8% |
| Manuel Franco | 56 | 9 | 16.1% |
Prat took Race 5 on Slay Sadie Slay, proving once again that if you leave him alone on a horse with any kind of tactical speed, you're toast. But look at Manuel Franco. He has the most starts (56) but only 9 wins. He’s hitting the board a ton, but he’s finishing second way more than his backers would like. If you're betting the race results Belmont Park today, you've got to decide if you're chasing the hot hand or the guy due for a change in luck.
Linda Rice is Still the Queen of the Big A
On the trainer side, Linda Rice is basically a win machine. She’s saddled 52 runners this meet and found the winner's circle 14 times. Her win in Race 3 with Princess Ny was a classic Rice move—dropping a horse into a spot where they actually belong instead of overmatching them.
The track today played fair, but there was a slight bias toward the rail in the sprints. If you were wide at the turn, you were basically running for second.
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Surprises from the Claiming Ranks
Race 6 gave us Remi's Moon. George Weaver trained this one, and Franco finally got back into the winner's circle. It was a $46,000 claiming race, and the $7.68 payout was fair. The disappointment of the race was Lotsa Trouble, who went off as the favorite but couldn't get higher than third.
Sometimes, the "trouble" in the name is a warning.
Later in Race 7, Carvellian Quest took the honors. This was a gritty performance. It’s the kind of race that makes you love winter racing in New York. It's not flashy. There are no celebrities in the stands. It’s just tough horses and tougher jockeys grinding it out in the cold.
Looking Ahead: The Road to the Kentucky Derby
While today was mostly about the grinders, everyone is talking about the Withers Stakes coming up on January 31. We saw some news today that Fourth and One is aiming for that race. That’s where the real points are. Today’s results show that the track is playing fast, which might favor a front-runner like Fourth and One when the stakes get higher.
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If you’re checking race results Belmont Park today to find clues for the Derby trail, keep an eye on the times for the mile races. Full Pour’s effort in Race 2 was faster than some allowance races we’ve seen lately.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re planning on betting the Monday card or looking toward next weekend, here is the move:
Check the workout reports for horses coming out of the Chad Brown barn. He’s been quiet this week, which usually means he’s about to unload a string of winners. Also, keep an eye on the "ship and win" horses coming in from Laurel or Parx. The New York circuit is tough, but a fit horse from Maryland can sometimes surprise these local claimers at a massive price.
Basically, don't get married to the favorites just because the big-name jockeys are on them. Watch the replays of Race 4 and Race 7 from today. See how those winners navigated the traffic. That’s how you find your edge for tomorrow.
The winter meet at Aqueduct continues Tuesday. Make sure your ADW account is funded because the Pick 6 carryover is starting to look very tempting.