Golden Tempo to Remain at Saratoga for Upcoming Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Following his victory in the $2 million Belmont Stakes, Golden Tempo is scheduled to van from Saratoga back to Keeneland on Monday, where he has been based since early April. However, trainer Cherie DeVaux plans for the colt to return to Saratoga for the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on August 1 and the Grade 1 Travers on August 29.
DeVaux chose the Jim Dandy over the Grade 1 Haskell (July 18 at Monmouth Park) because Golden Tempo likes the Saratoga track. She noted that the 1 1/4-mile distance is a favorable factor for the horse, as evidenced by his performances in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont, the latter of which he won by 1 1/4 lengths. While he is a “classic distance horse” at 1 1/4 miles, DeVaux hopes to see more versatility from him in the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy.
In the Belmont, Golden Tempo rallied from last to first, though the pace was more moderate than in the Derby. The opening half-mile was 48.29 seconds—nearly two seconds slower than the Derby pace—on a track that had absorbed some rain shortly before the start. Golden Tempo earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. Despite his Derby win, he entered the Belmont as the co-fourth choice at 6-1 odds.
Golden Tempo is the 13th horse (excluding Triple Crown winners) to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont. Six of the last seven to do so, including Sovereignty last year, were named 3-year-old champions.
Other Belmont Participants
- Commandment: Finished second, improving on a seventh-place Derby finish. Trainer Brad Cox will return him to Churchill Downs to evaluate training before deciding on his next race.
- Renegade: Finished third, beaten by 5 1/4 lengths. Trainer Todd Pletcher noted that while the Arkansas Derby winner was ready to run, he may have needed more time to bounce back from the Derby. Pletcher is “penciling in” the Jim Dandy but may also target the Travers.
- Powershift: Set the pace but finished last; Pletcher intends to back him up in distance.
- Chief Wallabee: Finished fourth. Trainer Bill Mott believes the horse does not prefer 1 1/4 miles. He is eligible for a first-level allowance or the Curlin Stakes (1 1/8 miles) on July 29.
- Emerging Market: Finished fifth after stumbling at the start and pulling a right front shoe. Trainer Chad Brown will regroup with him, as well as Growth Equity (6th) and Ottinho (8th).
