Golden Tempo supplemented his Kentucky Derby triumph when pulling away late to land the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
The winner had already provided one momentous occasion, with his Churchill Downs triumph meaning Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train the winner of the Kentucky Derby and there would be further history made by the duo at her local track.
With Todd Pletcher’s Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade sent off favourite to turn the tables, Golden Tempo left it to no doubt who the number one three-year-old colt in America is, burning off runner-up Commandment and old rival Renegade (third) in the hands of Jose Ortiz for another huge success.
DeVaux told Bloodhorse: “I think there were doubts because Renegade ran so well (in the Kentucky Derby) and he had trouble. So, there were thoughts that Renegade could have won the race, but they have been put to bed.”
Golden Tempo’s win vindicated the decision to skip the Preakness Stakes in favour of heading straight to the final leg of the US Triple Crown, as the son of Curlin followed in the footsteps of Bill Mott’s Sovereignty who did such a prestigious double 12 months ago.
“I do think we made the right decision. I don’t think we would have the same horse if we had run back in two weeks,” added DeVaux, who became the first female trainer to win two Triple Crown races.
“It’s a horse-by-horse, case-by-case decision. And for him, just as much growth as we’ve seen in him, it would have been hard for him to follow that up in two weeks and subsequently three weeks.”
DeVaux is the second woman to win the Belmont Stakes after Jena Antonucci’s victory with Arcangelo in 2023.
It would prove a fine evening for the handler on the last occasion the Classic was run at Saratoga before slated to return to its traditional home next year, with the trainer also landing the Grade One Woody Stephens Stakes with Englishman.
