Golden Tempo to skip Preakness Stakes, ending Triple Crown bid as trainer cites long-term health

There volition beryllium nary Triple Crown anticipation for Golden Tempo, the longshot equine that won the Kentucky Derby past week.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced Wednesday that the owners and she decided it was champion for the equine to skip the Preakness Stakes, the adjacent limb of the Triple Crown, with sights acceptable connected the Belmont Stakes alternatively connected June 6.

"We are incredibly admit of the excitement and enactment surrounding the anticipation of a Triple Crown run," DeVaux, who became the archetypal pistillate to bid a Derby-winning horse, wrote successful a statement. "Golden gave america the contention of a beingness successful the Kentucky Derby, and we judge the champion determination for him moving guardant is to springiness him a small much clip pursuing specified a tremendous effort. His health, happiness and semipermanent aboriginal volition ever stay our apical priority."

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Golden Tempo, ridden by Jose L. Ortiz, wins the 152nd Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville, Ky., connected May 2, 2026. (Jeff Roberson/AP)

It’s not uncommon for the Kentucky Derby victor to forgo the Preakness, which is acceptable for May 16 astatine Laurel Park successful Maryland. Golden Tempo marks the 3rd Kentucky Derby victor successful the past 5 years to skip the Preakness.

Last year’s winner, Sovereignty, was fixed the other remainder with Belmont successful the sights of trainer Bill Mott and Godolphin Racing instead.

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER SOVEREIGNTY SKIPPING PREAKNESS, TRAINER SAYS: 'WHAT'S BEST FOR THE HORSE'

One of the main reasons down that is the abbreviated timetable betwixt the Derby and Preakness, arsenic trainers and owners alike don’t privation to propulsion their prized equine with the two-week turnaround. While it’s been heavy debated, it hasn’t changed arsenic racing teams support their horses grooming alternatively of competing.

The past Triple Crown victor was Justify successful 2018, with American Pharoah earlier him successful 2015.

Jockey Jose Ortiz of Golden Tempo celebrates successful the winner's ellipse aft winning the 152nd Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville, Ky., connected May 2, 2026. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

It’s besides worthy noting that nary of the 18 horses who ran successful the Kentucky Derby volition beryllium astatine Laurel Park for the Preakness. Golden Tempo was the lone equine considered for the 2nd limb of the Triple Crown, but the squad has made their intentions known.

Golden Tempo has created rather the communicative since the 23-1 longshot rallied down the last agelong successful the 1 1/4-mile contention to victory.

The 3-year-old bay thoroughbred colt sent DeVaux and the remainder of the owner’s container into a raucous matter arsenic 1 tin surely understand.

Jockey Jose L. Ortiz celebrates aft riding Golden Tempo to triumph successful the 152nd Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville, Ky., connected May 2, 2026. (Abbie Parr/AP)

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"I don't adjacent person immoderate words close now," an affectional DeVaux said connected the NBC broadcast aft upsetting the contention to flooded aboriginal favourite Renegade. 

Jockey Jose Ortiz won the Derby for the archetypal clip successful his career. It was his 11th attempt, and helium bushed retired his member Irad, who rode the Todd Pletcher-trained colt.  

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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