Golden Tempo Completes Historic Triple Crown Victory
Golden Tempo won the 158th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, capturing thoroughbred racing's most prestigious achievement just five weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby. With jockey Jose Ortiz in the saddle, Golden Tempo charged down the stretch to claim victory at 6-1 odds, holding off Commandment at the finish line while favorite Renegade finished third.
The victory makes Golden Tempo only the 14th horse in history to win the Triple Crown, joining an exclusive group that includes Secretariat, American Pharoah, and most recently Justify in 2018. The win also marks a historic milestone for trainer Cherie DeVaux, who becomes the first woman to train a Triple Crown winner.
Golden Tempo's path to the Triple Crown spanned five weeks and three different distances across three states, a feat often called the most difficult achievement in American sports. The horse began its journey in May with the Kentucky Derby victory at Churchill Downs before facing what experts described as a significant pace challenge heading into the Belmont at Saratoga.
The Belmont Stakes traditionally serves as the final test of the Triple Crown, requiring horses to navigate a longer distance than either the Derby or the Preakness Stakes. Golden Tempo's performance demonstrated the stamina and speed necessary to succeed across the extended course, completing a remarkable season for the horse and its connections.
The race came before a crowd at Saratoga that witnessed a historic chapter in thoroughbred racing. Golden Tempo's victory extended a tradition of Triple Crown achievement that dates back to Sir Barton's sweep in 1919. Other notable winners in the 107-year history of the achievement include War Admiral, Whirlaway, Citation, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed.
The Triple Crown schedule typically spans five weeks, with the Kentucky Derby held first, followed by the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, and the Belmont Stakes three weeks after that. This timing structure has increasingly drawn scrutiny in recent years, as more Derby winners have chosen to skip the Preakness due to the short turnaround between races.
Golden Tempo's Triple Crown completion comes during a period of significant change in thoroughbred racing's landscape. Churchill Downs recently acquired the intellectual property rights to the Preakness Stakes in an $85 million deal, consolidating ownership of multiple Triple Crown races under one corporate entity. Industry discussions have included potential adjustments to the Triple Crown calendar, including moving the Preakness one week later to create a three-week gap between it and the Derby starting in 2027.
Despite broader challenges facing the sport, the Triple Crown remains one of American sports' most celebrated competitions, and Golden Tempo's achievement adds another legendary name to its storied history.