Race will return downstate to the new Belmont Park in 2027

By Brien Bouyea of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

The three-year run of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course won’t produce a Triple Crown, but this year’s final edition of the race at the Spa will nonetheless be an event to remember and is expected to draw many of the top 3-year-olds in the country.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux, a Saratoga Springs native, decided to pass on the Preakness Stakes and a Triple Crown attempt, but her Kentucky Derby-winning colt Golden Tempo is expected to be among the favorites for the 158th running of the Belmont on June 6 at Saratoga. DeVaux, the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, decided to skip the May 16 Preakness Stakes to make sure Golden Tempo is in top form for the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont.

“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort,” DeVaux said of skipping the Preakness in favor of a Belmont start. “His health, happiness and long-term future will always remain our top priority.”

A bay son of Hall of Famer Curlin out of the Bernardini mare Carrumba, Golden Tempo is owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. Prior to winning the Derby at odds of 23-1, he made four starts at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, including a win the Grade 3 Lecomte and third-place finishes in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby, both Grade 2 events. Jose Ortiz, who rode Golden Tempo to the Kentucky Derby win, will once again have the mount in the Belmont.

Golden Tempo is one of several Kentucky Derby starters expected to return in the Belmont. Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo is considered unlikely for the race. He will instead be pointed to the Haskell Invitational later this summer at Monmouth Park. Here is a look at five contenders who are expected to take on Golden Ticket in the Belmont:

Chief Wallabee

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott (who won the Belmont last year with Sovereignty), Chief Wallabee is a son of top sire Constitution. He is lightly raced, having made just four starts, but he was a solid fourth in the Kentucky Derby and looks to be a colt who is getting better with added experience. Expected to be ridden by Junior Alvarado in the Belmont, Chief

Wallabee made three starts at Gulfstream Park in Florida prior to the Kentucky Derby, never finishing worse than third.

Commandment

This talented son of Into Mischief has won four of his six starts, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby. Trained by Brad Cox (who won the Belmont and Travers in 2021 with Essential Quality), Commandment finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby. He has returned to the work tab at Churchill Downs and is considered likely for the Belmont. Luis Saez is expected to get the mount.

Further Ado

A rough trip led to a disappointing 11th-place finish for the chestnut son of Gun Runner in the Kentucky Derby. The Brad Cox trainee has otherwise been one of the top horses in the 3-year-old division. He entered the Derby off a dominant victory in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and has returned to the work tab at Churchill with an expected start in the Belmont as the next target. Hall of Famer John Velazquez (a two-time Belmont winner) will have the mount.

Potente

Trained by Hall of Famer and two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert, Potente was a disappointing 12th in the Kentucky Derby, but the bay son of Into Mischief is taking aim at the Belmont. He has remained at Churchill Downs instead of heading back to his California base. Potente, who won the Grade 2 San Felipe and finished second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, turned in a solid work at Churchill on May 15 in his first move since the Derby. Juan Hernandez is expected to ride in the Belmont.

Renegade

Perhaps the biggest threat to Golden Tempo in the Belmont is Renegade, who finished just a neck back of the winner in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher (a four-time Belmont winner), Renegade is another bay son of Into Mischief. A $975,000 purchase by Repole Stable (breeders Robert and Lawana Low co-own the colt), Renegade has never been worse than third in six career starts and entered the Derby off an impressive victory in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the mount.