The Triple Crown trail has officially hit a detour.
Just days after Golden Tempo stunned Churchill Downs with one of the most dramatic Kentucky Derby rallies in recent memory, the colt’s connections announced he will skip the Preakness Stakes, shutting down hopes for a Triple Crown run before it could fully ignite.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed the decision Wednesday, explaining that the team wants to prioritize the horse’s recovery and long-term future after an exhausting effort in Louisville. The move sends Golden Tempo directly toward the Belmont Stakes in June instead of the traditional second stop on horse racing’s biggest three-race tour.
The announcement lands as both a practical decision and a disappointment for racing fans who were still buzzing from Golden Tempo’s remarkable Derby upset. Entering the race as a 23-1 outsider, the colt sat near the back of the pack before exploding down the stretch to pull off a thrilling victory. The performance instantly transformed him from underdog to national headline.
The Derby win also carried historic significance. DeVaux became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, a breakthrough moment for the sport that added another layer of attention to Golden Tempo’s rise. Jockey Jose Ortiz added his own milestone by securing his first Derby victory aboard the colt.
Instead of taking on the Preakness at Laurel Park, the team will focus on preparing Golden Tempo for the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The choice reflects a wider trend across modern horse racing, where owners and trainers increasingly avoid the demanding two-week gap between the Derby and Preakness.
In recent years, more connections have chosen rest over tradition, fueling ongoing debates about whether the Triple Crown schedule still fits today’s racing environment. Racing officials in Maryland have even discussed adjusting the Preakness calendar in hopes of attracting more Derby contenders in future seasons.
For now, Golden Tempo’s story remains far from finished. The Triple Crown may be off the table, but the Belmont Stakes could still provide another spotlight moment for the horse that already delivered one of the sport’s most unforgettable surprises of 2026.
