SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Golden Tempo showed once more exactly why he is a great closer, and his stretch run at the Belmont Stakes delivered more history for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
With jockey Jose Ortiz aboard Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, Golden Tempo surged from the back of the pack to win the 158th rendition of the storied race. The victory came five weeks after his last-to-first charge to win the Kentucky Derby, the opening jewel of the Triple Crown series for American thoroughbred racing.
“Golden Tempo is amazing. Jose is amazing,” DeVaux said. “I think he needed to do this to kind of show that he was meant to win the Derby and that he is a horse that belongs in that conversation of being one of the top 3-year-olds.”
Golden Tempo held off Commandment to win by a length and a quarter at odds of 6-1. Commandment was second and favorite Renegade placed third.
“I followed them closely in the second turn,” Ortiz said. “They started to pick it up, so I did as well. I was just waiting for the right time to go all-in. When I asked him to go, my horse responded.”