Golden Tempo Defies the Speed to Capture 2026 Belmont Stakes

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — They said the track favored speed. They said he only won the Kentucky Derby because of a perfect fast-paced setup. But on Saturday, Golden Tempo silenced every remaining skeptic by unleashing another breath-taking, last-to-first charge to win the 158th running of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

By skipping the Preakness Stakes to train up for the final jewel of the Triple Crown, the son of Curlin proved he doesn’t need a fiery pace to dominate—he just needs a stretch to run. With the spectacular victory, Golden Tempo becomes the 13th horse in racing history to successfully complete the elusive Kentucky Derby-Belmont double.

The Last-to-First Surge: Defying the Saratoga Track

Entering the gate as a 6-1 co-fourth choice, Golden Tempo and championship jockey Jose Ortiz stayed true to their signature style. As the gates crashed open, the field broke cleanly while Golden Tempo contentedly dropped straight to the rear, trailing the front-runners by as many as 12 lengths in the early stages.

The concern floating around the Saratoga grandstands was palpable: the early fractions were remarkably slow. Without a blistering pace to tire out the leaders, closers usually stand no chance at the Spa.

Ortiz, however, remained cool under pressure. He tucked Golden Tempo tightly against the rail on the far turn, tracking the path of the race favorite, Renegade. Nearing the quarter pole, Commandment tried to box the Derby winner in, but Ortiz aggressively forced his way outward to find clear daylight as they turned for home.

From there, it was pure theater. Golden Tempo shifted into another gear, picking off horses with devastating strides before engaging in a furious final-furlong duel with Commandment. Golden Tempo surged ahead in the final stages, crossing the wire 1 1/4 lengths clear in a final time of 2:03.49 for the 1 1/4-mile distance.

“He wasn’t going to get that setup as he did in the Derby,” a triumphant Jose Ortiz said in the winner’s circle. “We all knew that, and I was a little worried about it. He needed some kind of setup. But today, there wasn’t one, and he showed up anyway and won.”

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History at the Spa: The Cherie DeVaux Dynasty

The victory vaulted trainer Cherie DeVaux into a historic stratosphere. Just five weeks after becoming the first female trainer ever to win the Kentucky Derby, DeVaux is now the second woman to win the Belmont Stakes (joining Jena Antonucci, who won with Arcangelo in 2023), and the first woman to win multiple Triple Crown races.

The victory carried immense sentimental weight for DeVaux, who was born in Saratoga Springs and began her training career right at this historic track.

Hometown Glory: With the traditional home of the Belmont Stakes downstate currently being demolished and rebuilt, 2026 marked the third and final consecutive year the race was held at Saratoga before returning to a brand-new Belmont Park in 2027.

Proving the Pedigree: “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 three-year-olds,” DeVaux remarked. “All the credit goes to Golden Tempo.”

2026 Belmont Stakes Official Finish & Payouts

Because the race was run at Saratoga, the distance was adjusted to 1 1/4 miles (matching the Kentucky Derby) due to the track’s configuration.

Finish	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds	Win Payout	Place Payout	Show Payout
1st	Golden Tempo	Jose Ortiz	Cherie DeVaux	6-1	$14.00	$7.32	$3.88
2nd	Commandment	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	6-1	—	$7.02	$4.08
3rd	Renegade	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Todd Pletcher	8-5 (F)	—	—	$2.52
4th	Chief Wallabee	Luis Saez	D. Wayne Lukas	5-1	—	—	—

Wager Payouts: The 9/7 Exacta paid $55.67 on a $1 bet, while the 9/7/4 Trifecta returned $51.32 on a 50-cent wager.

What Lies Ahead: The Midsummer Derby

With two classic trophies in the cabinet, the connections for Golden Tempo confirmed that the definitive next target on the calendar is the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on August 29, right back at Saratoga. Should the powerhouse closer handle the midsummer heat, he will firmly solidify his status as the undisputed 3-year-old champion of 2026.