Golden Tempo Aims for Travers Stakes After Derby and Belmont Triumphs

Golden Tempo used a huge late kick to win the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. He now targets the Travers for his next start

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Golden Tempo’s thrilling victories in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes have captured the attention of racing fans worldwide. As the summer stakes season gets underway, trainer Cherie DeVaux has laid out a strategy to prepare her standout three‑year‑old colt for his next challenge—the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 29.

Golden Tempo Leader Among Three-Year-Old Class

His victory in the sport’s most prestigious race firmly established Golden Tempo as a contender in Thoroughbred racing. Down the backstretch, a burst of speed propelled this Curlin offspring past the field, securing the Kentucky Derby at 23‑1 odds thanks to a masterful ride by Jose Ortiz. Repeated viewings of Derby 152 only underscore how extraordinary that performance truly was.

Having skipped the Preakness, the connections headed to Saratoga for the Belmont Stakes intent on proving themselves. After becoming the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, DeVaux wanted to demonstrate that her success stemmed from skill rather than gender. Entering the Belmont as a 23‑1 longshot—often dismissed as a fluke—Tempo silenced the doubters. From an outside post in a nine‑horse field, the colt, owned by Phipps Stables and St. Elias Stables, surged up the backstretch, took command in the stretch, and pulled away to win by a length and a quarter, leaving no question about his status as the top three‑year‑old of the 2026 crop.

Slight Health Issue Dictates Decision To Train Up To Travers Stakes

Golden Tempo now leads the three‑year‑old division, attracting interest from rivals eager to test him. Originally, the team had considered a tune‑up race between the Belmont and the Travers ahead of the Mid‑Summer Derby. Given the Travers’s stature as the oldest stakes for three‑year‑olds in the U.S., its significance is substantial. After a minor health setback, DeVaux opted to keep the colt in training, aiming for the August 29 showcase.

DeVaux noted, “Golden Tempo showed the early signs of a lung infection and missed some training. He’s recovered and back at work, but we felt it wise to simply prepare him for the Travers.”

The Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 18 and the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on August 1 serve as key preparatory events for the Travers, potentially shaping the field that will line up against Golden Tempo in Saratoga’s premier three‑year‑old contest. For Tempo’s connections, the focus isn’t on the competition but on ensuring the colt is at his peak when race day arrives.

To date, Golden Tempo boasts three victories and two third‑place finishes from five starts, accumulating earnings of $4,633,000.

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