Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo prevails in Belmont

Jun 06, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Golden Tempo wins the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand)

After going from last to first in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Golden Tempo repeated the same deep-closing tactics to win Saturday’s Belmont (G1) at Saratoga. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has made history again, as the first woman to win two Triple Crown races.

Under jockey Jose Ortiz, who was winning his second Belmont, Golden Tempo faced a more challenging scenario here. The Derby set up perfectly for his late kick, but the Belmont pace was not fast, and the Saratoga track had been playing much more favorably to horses on or near the lead.

Hence bettors were cool toward Golden Tempo’s chances of following up in the Belmont, sending him off at odds of 6-1. Derby near-misser Renegade was the 8-5 favorite to turn the tables, but he did not get as close this time.

GOLDEN TEMPO! THE KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER IS THE BELMONT STAKES WINNER TOO! pic.twitter.com/tRfUWOoHaa

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 6, 2026

Golden Tempo was allowed to drop to the back of the pack as a modest pace unfolded up front. Powershift led the way in fractions of :23.96, :48.29, and 1:12.38, prompted by Growth Equity.

Rounding the far turn, Growth Equity took command and tried to maintain his momentum down the stretch. But a quartet of Derby veterans began to launch their bids. Although Chief Wallabee and Renegade were in the picture, the best moves were coming wider out from Golden Tempo and Commandment.

Golden Tempo surged late to pull away from Commandment. Finishing 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.49, he paid $14.

Renegade was farther back in third. Chief Wallabee and Emerging Market rounded out a clean sweep of the top five for Derby alumni, followed by classic newcomers Growth Equity, Vitruvian Man, Ottinho, and Powershift.

A homebred for Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, Golden Tempo advanced his record to 6-4-0-2. He is the second Belmont winner for sire Curlin, after Palace Malice (2013).

DeVaux, the first woman trainer to win the Derby, joins Jena Antonucci on the Belmont honor roll. Antonucci trained 2023 winner Arcangelo, who went on to add the Travers (G1) and reign as champion three-year-old male.

As the winner of two jewels of the Triple Crown, Golden Tempo is in pole position to win the divisional Eclipse Award this season.