Kentucky Derby-winner Golden Tempo to skip Preakness Stakes
Jockey Jose Ortiz celebrates his Kentucky Derby victory aboard Golden Tempo (Steph Chambers) Kentucky Derby-winner Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness Stakes, history-making trainer Cherie DeVaux said Wednesday, dashing hopes of a Triple Crown challenge in 2026. Golden Tempo stormed from dead last to win the 152nd Derby on Saturday, making DeVaux the first woman trainer to saddle a winner in the iconic event at Churchill Downs. DeVaux said in a statement on Wednesday that the horse's connections had decided "as a team" that Golden Tempo will bypass the May 16 Preakness, the second race in US flat racing's Triple Crown that concludes with the Belmont Stakes in June.
Only 13 horses have completed the treble, and DeVaux said she and Golden Tempo's team were "incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run. " However, she added, "Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort. "His health, happiness and long-term future will always remain our top priority," she said, adding that Golden Tempo would be pointed toward the Belmont on June 6.
Neither the Preakness nor the Belmont will be run at their traditional venues this year. The Preakness will be held at Laurel Park in Maryland as Pimlico Race Course undergoes renovations while the Belmont will be run at Saratoga for the third and final year due to renovations at Belmont Park. bb/rcw