Golden Tempo Captures 158th Belmont Stakes, Sweeps First and Third Legs of Triple Crown
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Golden Tempo proved his Kentucky Derby victory was no accident, returning Saturday to win the 158th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The victory made Cherie DeVaux only the second woman to train a winner of the third leg of the Triple Crown. The Saratoga Springs native joined Jena Antonucci, who captured the 2023 Belmont with Arcangelo.
Commandment finished second, while Renegade — who had finished a neck behind Golden Tempo in last month’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs — settled for third.
All three top finishers ran in the Derby but skipped the May 16 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, avoiding the tight two-week turnaround between races.
Racing in a style similar to his Derby performance, jockey Jose Ortiz guided Golden Tempo from last to first with another strong late rally. This time, however, Ortiz had to produce the closing move without the benefit of the faster early pace that set up his Derby victory.
Despite his previous win, Golden Tempo did not go off as the favorite. That honor went to Renegade, sent off at 8-5.
Breaking from the outside post at 6-1 in the nine-horse field, Golden Tempo paid $14.00 to win, $7.32 to place, and $3.88 to show. Commandment (5-1) returned $7.02 and $4.08, while Renegade paid $2.52 to show.
