As Travers looms, DeVaux is 'confident' about Golden Tempo

Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo took to the Saratoga main track for his weekly breeze a little later than usual Saturday, working four furlongs in 47.46 seconds with Jose Ortiz up over a surface labeled fast, according to NYRA clockers.

For the second straight week, Golden Tempo worked inside stablemate Paige Turner but this time had a less vigorous gallop out compared to his three previous breezes here at Saratoga as he prepares for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, a 1 1/4-mile test for 3-year-olds on Aug. 29. 

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“He worked very well,” said trainer Cherie DeVaux. “Jumped right in the bridle, settled in nicely, and had a nice gallop out. We didn’t have him gallop out the way he has his last couple of works – just kind of eased him down just because he’s been doing a lot.”

In prior weeks, Golden Tempo had breezed just after 7 a.m. EDT, but this week his move was pushed back to 8:45 a.m. EDT because of heavy fog. The track still had some moisture from rain on Friday afternoon.

“He handled (the track) fine, but (he) probably wouldn’t have gone as fast to start out if it were dry, a normal track,” said DeVaux.

DeVaux said she is feeling “confident” with Golden Tempo, a Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred, going into the Travers.

“He seems fit, he seems really happy,” added DeVaux. “He’s had a couple of really nice works, solid, and he’s not overly exerted, so I think he’s in a really good place.”

After closing from last of 18 to edge Renegade by a neck in the Kentucky Derby, Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness and instead trained up to the Belmont Stakes. In the Belmont, he once again trailed the field before making a determined run, eventually prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths over Commandment with Renegade an additional four lengths back in third.

Golden Tempo missed some training in June with a brief illness, but he returned to the work tab at Keeneland on July 17 (four furlongs in 48.40 seconds) and subsequently was shipped to Saratoga. His three prior breezes at Saratoga came July 26 (48.51 seconds), August 2 (47.67 seconds), and August 8 (48.94 seconds).

“He trains really well at both (Keeneland and Saratoga),” said DeVaux. “He’s starting to tout himself. Galloping, he’s taking the rider a bit, taking a good hold. He’s happy, the way he was going into all of his other races, like right before the race, just really getting into his training. His condition looks fantastic.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz has ridden Golden Tempo in all six of his starts and for his four breezes at Saratoga.

“We wanted 48 (seconds) today,” said Ortiz. “He went a little bit more, 47, but he did it on his own. The gallop out was good. He was in the bridle today. Just let him be happy, stretch his legs. I was very happy with him. We need a peak performance to win the Travers.”

Golden Tempo raced without blinkers in his first three starts, winning a six-furlong maiden race in November and the Grade 3 Lecomte in January before finishing an even third, beaten six lengths, the Grade 2 Risen Star in February. He came up one length short when third in his first start wearing blinkers, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March, before his breakthrough victories in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont.

“It’s been a beautiful journey,” said Ortiz. “Obviously, his debut was very nice, gave us a lot of hope. He ran good after that, but since we put the blinkers on him he's changed a lot. He’s been a great horse to be around. Very successful, obviously, winning the Derby and the Belmont. We’ll see if we can get the Travers.”

“(Golden Tempo has been) more focused on his job (with blinkers),” the rider later added. “I think that helps him a lot. I mean, not in the race – he’s still a closer. We thought the blinkers would help him with positioning himself in races, but it wasn’t the case. But in the mornings, when I got on him the first day working with the blinkers, I knew he was a different horse right away. When he stepped on the racetrack, he was just different. He was going forward. Before, you had to ask him to do everything.”

DeVaux also provided updates on a trio of 3-year-olds owned by C R K Stable.

The trainer said Woody Stephens (G1) winner Englishman remains on track for the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) on Aug. 29 after breezing four furlongs in 49 flat on Friday at Keeneland. He will ship to Saratoga the week of the seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds.

Remember Mamba, fourth in the Saratoga Derby (G1) last Saturday, came out of the race in good shape, but DeVaux believes the Transylvania (G3) winner and Belmont Derby (G1) third-place finisher may benefit from a change of scenery.

“I was a little concerned prior to the (Saratoga Derby),” said DeVaux. “In the paddock, he was quiet, and he kind of ran that way. I’m not really sure Saratoga is his favorite place, so we are going to regroup (and) probably run him back at Keeneland (in the Bryan Station (G3) on Oct. 24).”

Supercharger, winner of the Secretariat (G2) at Colonial Downs on August 1, likely will make his next start back at Colonial in the Old Dominion Derby (G3) on Sept. 7, the trainer said.