Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo took a major step toward the Belmont Stakes on Saturday morning, covering five furlongs in 1:00.20 over a good track at Keeneland. With jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, the Cherie DeVaux trainee completed his second of three scheduled workouts ahead of the June 6 Belmont Stakes, which will be held at Saratoga Race Course this year.
Originally scheduled for Friday, the work was delayed a day due to heavy rains. Breezing alongside stakes-placed stablemate So Sandy, Golden Tempo posted sharp fractions of :12, :23.40, :35.20, and :47.80, galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40.
“Really pleased with his work this morning,” DeVaux said. “From both what Jose felt and what I saw, Golden Tempo looks to be in good shape to have another big race.” DeVaux plans for a final maintenance breeze next Friday before shipping the colt to New York on Saturday.
The Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred has won three of his five career starts, boosting his earnings to $3,433,000. Before his thrilling last-to-first neck victory in the $5 million Kentucky Derby, the son of Curlin campaigned at Fair Grounds, winning the Lecomte (G3) and placing third in both the Risen Star (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2).
