​Golden Tempo captured the hearts of the sporting world with dramatic victories in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes this spring, solidifying his place as a force in the Thoroughbred scene. As the summer stakes races began to heat up, trainer Cherie DeVaux laid out a careful plan for her cherished three-year-old, guiding him toward his next start in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 29. The Derby triumph, the world’s most famous race, elevated Golden Tempo from a promising colt to a real contender in the sport. Coming from the far back of the field on the backstretch, the colt, a son of Curlin, surged with powerful strides to win the Kentucky Derby at 23-to-1 odds, delivering a brilliant ride from jockey Jose Ortiz. Watching Derby 152 unfold repeatedly only amplifies the awe of that run, a miraculous performance that showcased Golden Tempo’s resolve and talent.
After skipping the Preakness Stakes, Golden Tempo’s team headed to Saratoga with something to prove. DeVaux, who became the first female trainer to condition a Kentucky Derby champion, wanted to demonstrate that she was not merely a rising female trainer but a rising force in the broader landscape of the sport. Golden Tempo carried his 23-to-1 status into the Belmont Stakes, facing a field with some bettors considering him a lucky winner from the first Saturday in May. When the gates opened, Golden Tempo asserted himself, breaking from the outside post in a nine-horse contest. The colt, owned by Phipps Stables and St. Elias Stables, sped down the backstretch while others looked on. As the real running commenced, Golden Tempo continued to dominate, finishing with a powerful finish that left little doubt about his quality. He crossed the wire a length and a quarter ahead, confirming that he was the best three-year-old of the day and a leading figure in the 2026 crop.
At Saratoga Springs, New York, the moment of triumph was captured as Jose Ortiz rode Golden Tempo to victory in the 158th Belmont Stakes at the iconic Saratoga Race Course on June 6, 2026. The win solidified Golden Tempo’s status at the summit of the three-year-old class, drawing challengers who were eager to take him on. The original plan included a prep race between the Belmont and the Travers to sharpen him for the summer showcase, recognizing the Travers as the oldest stakes race for three-year-olds in the United States and a race of tremendous importance in the sport. A health hiccup briefly paused Golden Tempo’s training, prompting DeVaux to alter the schedule and keep the colt on the training track until it was time to ramp up again for the mid-summer showdown on August 29.
“Golden Tempo began to show signs of a lung infection, and he had to miss some training,” DeVaux explained. “He is doing fine now and has returned to the training track, but given the circumstances, we believed it was best to train up to the Travers.” The scheduling shift led to the inclusion of key prep races—the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 18 and the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on August 1—as potential indicators of which horses would challenge Golden Tempo in the Travers. These races carry significant implications for SEO and visibility, as analysts and fans alike look to identify the strongest contenders in the summer championship series and to gauge how the field shapes up for the Travers.