The front-running horses in last month’s Kentucky Derby completed the first quarter-mile in less than 23 seconds and a half-mile in less than 47 seconds.
That blistering pace paved the way for Golden Tempo’s last-to-first charge from the back of the pack to win by a neck on May 2 at Louisville’s Churchill Downs. Five weeks later, the Cherie DeVaux-trained colt is among the top contenders for the 158th rendition of the Belmont Stakes, even if there does not appear to be as much early speed in the field for Saturday’s showdown at Saratoga Race Course.
That could mean jockey Jose Ortiz has to ride a much different race to close out the Triple Crown series than the masterful way he did to start it, especially considering the stiff competition from morning line favorite Renegade, who was the Kentucky Derby runner-up, as well as others returning to the track who ran in that race.
“We just have to hope that a pace materializes with his running style,” DeVaux said. “If that does not happen, Jose is going to have to come up with plan B to where he just doesn’t give himself so much to do in the later stages of the race.”
Golden Tempo blew by Renegade — who had Irad Ortiz Jr. (Jose’s older brother) aboard as his jockey — just before the finish line at the Kentucky Derby, needing every bit of the 1 1/4 miles and winning in 2 minutes and 2.27 seconds as a 23-1 long shot. The Belmont Stakes will also be that length Saturday because it is being held at Saratoga in upstate New York for the third consecutive time before returning next year to its regular home at Long Island’s Belmont Park, which is being rebuilt but will still feature the traditional “champion’s length” of 1 1/2 miles for the Triple Crown finale.