Golden Tempo Does It Again: Kentucky Derby Winner Claims Belmont Stakes Glory
By Packed House Sports | June 7, 2026
There was nothing fluky about it.
Golden Tempo, the long-shot hero of the 2026 Kentucky Derby, silenced every remaining skeptic on Saturday evening at Saratoga Race Course — surging from last place to first in the stretch to win the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes. With jockey José Ortiz aboard, the colt crossed the wire in a time of 2:03.49, completing one of the most compelling Derby-to-Belmont doubles in recent memory.
A Familiar Script, Written in Stone
If you watched the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago, you’ve seen this movie before. Golden Tempo dropped to the back of the pack, bided his time, and then, almost impossibly, found another gear when it counted most.
Saturday was no different.
Behind a moderate pace set by Powershift, Golden Tempo settled at the rear of the nine-horse field through the early going. Around the far turn, Ortiz asked his horse to run, and Golden Tempo responded. He ran down the fading Chief Wallabee, then held off the hard-charging Commandment to win by just over a length. Renegade, the 8-5 post-time favorite who had also been bet down as the Derby favorite, and finished second there too, came home third once again.
Final order: Golden Tempo, Commandment, Renegade, Chief Wallabee.
“We felt the best horse won the Kentucky Derby, and it just solidified that today.” — Trainer Cherie DeVaux, post-race
History Made in the Saddle and the Barn
The win wasn’t just a personal triumph for Golden Tempo — it was a landmark moment for thoroughbred racing.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux, a Saratoga Springs native who launched her career at the very track where Saturday’s race was run, became the first woman in history to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. She also joined Jena Antonucci (2023, with Arcangelo) as only the second female trainer to take the Belmont, doing so in the span of just four years.
“I thought that because of the way the race was run in the Derby, he was having to go out and prove himself,” DeVaux said after the race. Her horse answered emphatically.
The Preakness Question
Golden Tempo becomes the 13th horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes — but he is not a Triple Crown champion. DeVaux made the decision to skip the Preakness Stakes on May 16, following a trend set by last year’s Derby winner, opting instead for five weeks of rest before Saratoga.
Napoleon Solo won the Preakness in Golden Tempo’s absence.
The Belmont victory has, inevitably, reignited the debate: could Golden Tempo have swept the Triple Crown? DeVaux wasn’t entertaining the thought. “It’s not something I want to think about,” she told Fox’s Tom Rinaldi. “We made our decision, and he won today, and we’re going to be happy about that.”
Odds, Payouts & Field Notes
Golden Tempo entered Saturday’s race at 6-1 odds, listed as the fifth choice in the wagering — a remarkable undervaluation for a reigning Kentucky Derby champion. The morning-line favorite Renegade, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, had been bet down to 8-5 by post time.
Despite a stumble out of the gate, Golden Tempo never looked in danger once he found his stride.
Full Belmont Stakes 2026 payouts:
- $1 Exacta: $55.67
- 50-cent Trifecta: $51.32
- 10-cent Superfecta: $23.79
Saratoga’s Final Belmont Bow
Saturday also marked the third and final time the Belmont Stakes was held at Saratoga Race Course while Belmont Park in Elmont, New York completes its long-running renovation. The race will return to its traditional Long Island home next year.
It was a fitting send-off for Saratoga’s stint as host, capped by one of the most emphatic performances the storied meet has seen in years.
What’s Next for Golden Tempo?
With a Derby and a Belmont in the books before his fourth birthday, Golden Tempo has firmly established himself as the best three-year-old in training. The racing world will now watch closely to see how connections manage his summer campaign, and whether he can take on older horses as the fall classic season approaches.
For now, though, Golden Tempo has done something simple and extraordinary: he proved, twice, that he’s the best horse in the field. And this time, nobody was surprised.
Cover photo credit: AP Photo / Yuki Iwamura
Tags: Belmont Stakes, Golden Tempo, Horse Racing, Triple Crown, Cherie DeVaux, José Ortiz, Saratoga Race Course, 2026