Is Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo running the Preakness Stakes?

The 151st Preakness Stakes is Saturday at Laurel Park in Maryland, as the historic Pimlico Race Course, the traditional home of the middle jewel, undergoes significant renovations. This year, one notable contender will not be racing, dashing the hopes of a potential Triple Crown winner. Golden Tempo , the 2026 Kentucky Derby winner, will not be among the 14 horses competing in the Preakness Stakes.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced earlier this month that the connections have chosen to skip the second leg of the Triple Crown, instead setting their sights on the Belmont Stakes, the historic final race in the series. In the official statement, DeVaux and the ownership team explained that skipping the Preakness would give Golden Tempo additional time to recover and prepare after his victory at Churchill Downs. The demanding nature of the Triple Crown schedule, with its quick turnaround between races, played a significant role in their decision.

Preakness announcement pic. twitter. com/8JQu7VZlRC — Cherie DeVaux (@reredevaux) May 6, 2026 "We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run," DeVaux said in a statement.

"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. " Golden Tempo is now the third Kentucky Derby winner in the past five years to bypass the Preakness, highlighting a growing trend as owners and trainers increasingly prioritize the long-term well-being of their horses over the historic pursuit of the Triple Crown.