Belmont 2026: Golden Tempo breezes with Ortiz at Keeneland

Golden Tempo, the Keeneland-based winner of the Kentucky Derby, turned in his second of three works in preparation for the Belmont Stakes on June 6 at Saratoga. With jockey José Ortiz aboard for trainer Cherie DeVaux, the colt covered five furlongs on a good track Saturday morning in 1:00.2.

The workout originally was planned for Friday but was postponed due to wet track conditions after steady rains in the area.

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Breezing in company with stakes-placed 4-year-old So Sandy at 9 a.m. EDT — after the second morning renovation period, Golden Tempo produced fractions of 12.0, 23.4, 35.2, 47.8, 1:00.2 and out three-quarters in 1:13.4 and seven-eighths in 1:27.4.

“Really pleased with his work this morning,” DeVaux said. “José was aboard, and from both what he felt and what I saw, Golden Tempo looks to be in good shape to have another big race and take another step forward.

“We’re hoping to breeze back next week with a maintenance work on Friday and then ship to New York on Saturday.” 

The day after his last-to-first performance to win the Kentucky Derby by a neck, Golden Tempo returned to DeVaux’s barn at the Keeneland training center, commonly called Rice Road after the road that runs from Versailles Road through the west side of Keeneland’s property to Van Meter Road.

Golden Tempo was back on the work tab May 15 for his first work since the Kentucky Derby with a time of 48.6 seconds for four furlongs.

Golden Tempo, a homebred son of Curlin for Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, has won three races in five starts and has earned $3,433,000. At the beginning of 2026, he was stabled at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where he won the Lecomte (G3) on Jan. 17 and was third in both the Risen Star (G2) on Feb. 14 and the Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 21.