Golden Tempo Surges from Last to Capture Belmont Stakes for Trainer Cherie DeVaux
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Golden Tempo came from the back of a nine-horse field to win Saturday’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, just five weeks removed from a victory in the Kentucky Derby.
With Jose Ortiz aboard and Cherie DeVaux as trainer, Golden Tempo returned a generous $14 as the fourth betting choice. The colt crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead of 6-1 Commandment, who in turn finished four lengths clear of third-place Renegade, the 8-5 favorite.
Chief Wallabee took fourth, with Emerging Market, Growth Equity, Vitruvian Man, Ottinho and Powershift completing the order of finish. Chief Wallabee and Emerging Market both went off at 5-1.
Golden Tempo covered the 1 1/4-mile distance in 2:03.49.
Powershift (11-1) led the field through early fractions, posting 23.96 for the opening quarter-mile and 48.29 for the half, with Growth Equity tracking closely behind. As the runners neared the stretch, Ortiz angled Golden Tempo out wide and pressed forward, drawing alongside a determined Commandment.
In early stretch, Growth Equity faced an immediate challenge from Chief Wallabee. Commandment and Golden Tempo advanced together, moving into prominent positions with more than a furlong to run, and Golden Tempo edged ahead in the final furlong.
Racing for Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, Golden Tempo has now won 4 of 6 career starts.
A son of Curlin, Golden Tempo is the second straight Kentucky Derby winner to bypass the Preakness Stakes in Maryland and go on to take the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga — following the path set by Sovereignty a year ago.
