Golden Tempo Wins Belmont Stakes at Saratoga With Late Rally
- Jun 9
- 1 min read
Golden Tempo added the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga to his Kentucky Derby (G1) triumph, closing from last to first for the second consecutive time and securing a place in Triple Crown history for connections and trainer Cherie DeVaux.
DeVaux became the first woman to win two Triple Crown races, accomplishing the feat in the same season as Golden Tempo replicated his deep-closing style in the Belmont. The victory followed his dramatic late surge in the Kentucky Derby, where he also rallied from the back of the field.
Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, who earned his second Belmont win, Golden Tempo had to overcome conditions that were less favorable to his running style. Unlike the Derby, which featured a stronger pace that set up his late charge, the Belmont unfolded at a slower tempo on a Saratoga track that had been favoring front-runners and horses racing near the lead.
Despite the more moderate fractions and track profile, Golden Tempo produced another sustained rally through the stretch to run down the leaders and claim the final jewel of the Triple Crown at Saratoga, underlining his status as the leading three-year-old of the season.