Golden Tempo crossed the finish line in two minutes and three seconds on Saturday to claim the 158th Belmont Stakes. Jockey Jose Ortiz guided the horse from off the pace into a steady stretch run at Saratoga Race Course. The victory arrived just five weeks after the same animal won the Kentucky Derby. Commandment finished second, while favorite Renegade took third place. The race featured a slower early pace than Churchill Downs, which allowed Golden Tempo to conserve energy for the final quarter mile.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux secured her second major Triple Crown win in four years. She became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby champion and now joins Jena Antonucci as only the second female trainer to capture the Belmont Stakes recently. DeVaux, who grew up in Saratoga Springs, oversaw the event from the track where she started her career. Owners Vincent Viola and Daisy Phipps Pulito share stakes in the winner.
The team decided to skip the Preakness Stakes to allow the horse extra recovery time between races. DeVaux noted that Golden Tempo does not thrive on short rest periods, so moving directly to the Belmont made sense for his health. Her barn continues its regular spring schedule with two-year-olds in training. She also highlighted improved safety standards under the HISA regulatory framework and a stronger focus on placing retired racehorses into second careers.
Saturday marked the final Belmont Stakes run at Saratoga before its main track closes for reconstruction. The event will return to its traditional home at Belmont Park next season, pending new seating permits and revised entry fees for participating owners. State residents pay for half the renovation costs through agricultural grants. DeVaux said she watched the
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