Lead: Golden Tempo, who edged the field to win the Kentucky Derby by a nose, will not run in the May 16 Preakness Stakes, trainer Cherie DeVaux announced Wednesday. Instead, the three-year-old will be aimed at the Belmont Stakes on June 6. DeVaux said the decision is intended to allow the colt extra recovery time after the grueling Derby effort. The absence continues a recent pattern of Derby winners bypassing the Preakness.
Key Takeaways
- Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby by a nose and will skip the Preakness scheduled for May 16.
- Trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed the colt will be pointed to the Belmont Stakes on June 6 instead.
- Golden Tempo is the second straight Kentucky Derby winner to forgo the Preakness, following Sovereignty last year.
- As of Wednesday, none of the 19 starters from the Kentucky Derby have committed to the Preakness.
- Trainers increasingly question the traditional two-week gap between the Derby and Preakness as potentially too short for modern Thoroughbreds.
- The Preakness will run at Laurel Park this year while Pimlico’s grandstand undergoes renovation; the race is scheduled to return to Pimlico in 2027.
Background
The Triple Crown calendar has long placed the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, followed by the Preakness two weeks later and the Belmont several weeks after that. That compressed schedule was designed in a different era of racing and has become a flashpoint as training methods, veterinary care and breeding have evolved. In recent seasons, a growing number of trainers and owners have argued that the two-week turnaround between Derby and Preakness can compromise a horse’s recovery and long-term campaign.
Last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, also skipped the Preakness, marking a change in behavior by connections that once routinely chased the Triple Crown sequence. Race organizers and broadcasters have taken notice; Preakness date and media-rights discussions have surfaced as possible levers for schedule change. At the same time, the Preakness will be staged at Laurel Park this year because Pimlico is undergoing a multi-year grandstand renovation, a logistical change that has altered the event’s traditional setting.
Main Event
Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced on Wednesday that Golden Tempo will bypass the May 16 Preakness and instead be aimed at the Belmont Stakes on June 6. DeVaux said the colt “gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby,” and that giving him additional time after such an effort is the “best decision” for his long-term health and performance, according to a statement posted to X by the trainer.
Golden Tempo’s narrow Derby victory—decided by a nose—was a physically taxing effort that connections evidently judged merited extra rest before another classic test. With the Derby field producing none of its 19 starters committed to the Preakness as of Wednesday, the Preakness undercard and wagering picture remain unsettled. Prominent trainers have increasingly signaled that immediate recovery and summer/fall objectives often outweigh the traditional motivation to pursue the Triple Crown sequence.
The Preakness this year will be held at Laurel Park, just south of Baltimore, while work continues on Pimlico’s grandstand, and the race is slated to return to Pimlico in 2027. Those venue and calendar shifts have added another layer to planning for owners and trainers, who must weigh travel, track configuration and timing when mapping a three-year-old’s campaign. Television-rights negotiations that follow this year’s running have also prompted public discussion about whether the Preakness date could be adjusted in the near future.
Analysis & Implications
The decision to bypass the Preakness underscores a widening divide between tradition and contemporary horsemanship. Modern training regimens and veterinary protocols place a premium on recovery; owners with long-term campaigns for high-value horses may prioritize later summer and fall targets over a quick return two weeks after the Derby. That calculus reduces the likelihood that every Derby winner will contest the Preakness and reshapes what the Triple Crown means in practice.
From a commercial standpoint, repeat Derby omissions could pressure stakeholders to reassess the Triple Crown calendar. Broadcasters and rights holders may press for scheduling that maximizes star participation and viewership; the industry’s ongoing talks over television rights create a potential inflection point. Any calendar change would require coordination among racing authorities, track operators and horsemen, and would likely provoke debate about tradition versus participant welfare.
Sporting and betting dynamics are also affected. A Derby winner’s absence typically alters early wagering pools and can shift attention to other top three-year-olds. For the Belmont, however, having Golden Tempo enter could raise the stakes and betting interest for that event, potentially boosting attendance and revenue for New York Racing Association properties. Conversely, the Preakness could face ticketing and promotional challenges if multiple marquee names opt out.
Comparison & Data
| Year | Kentucky Derby Winner | Preakness Participation |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sovereignty | Did not run Preakness |
| 2026 | Golden Tempo | Will not run Preakness; targeting Belmont (June 6) |
The two-row table above highlights consecutive Derby winners who have skipped the Preakness, signaling a possible trend rather than an isolated choice. While the sample is small, it aligns with trainer commentary that the two-week gap is increasingly viewed as insufficient by some connections. Race authorities will watch whether trainers continue to prioritize later events when shaping campaigns for elite colts and fillies.
Reactions & Quotes
“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.”
Cherie DeVaux, trainer (statement posted to X)
DeVaux framed the choice as a welfare-first decision for Golden Tempo, emphasizing recovery and future targets. The short statement was shared on social media rather than a formal press conference, reflecting how connections now use platforms like X for immediate communication.
“Holding the Preakness at Laurel Park while Pimlico is renovated ensures continuity of the race, but it also changes variables trainers must consider when finalizing entries.”
Preakness Organizers (official comment)
Preakness officials noted logistics and venue differences are part of the equation for trainers mapping a campaign, and they reiterated the race’s plan to return to Pimlico in 2027. Organizers are monitoring field announcements closely as entries solidify.
Unconfirmed
- Which of the 19 Kentucky Derby starters will ultimately declare for the Preakness remains uncertain as entries continue to develop.
- Whether the Preakness date will be altered as part of upcoming television-rights negotiations is under discussion but unconfirmed.
- Details of any specific rehabilitation or training adjustments planned for Golden Tempo between now and the Belmont have not been publicly disclosed.
Bottom Line
Golden Tempo’s decision to skip the Preakness and target the Belmont underscores a shifting calculus among owners and trainers that prioritizes recovery and long-term campaigns over immediate Triple Crown sequence chasing. The colt’s withdrawal joins last year’s similar choice by Sovereignty, suggesting the two-week interval between the Derby and Preakness is increasingly viewed as too tight for some connections.
For racing authorities, broadcasters and fans, these developments raise strategic questions about the Triple Crown’s structure and the incentives that determine participation. How stakeholders respond—through calendar adjustments, marketing or purse reallocation—will shape the series’ relevance and the pathways top three-year-olds take in coming seasons.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports (media report summarizing trainer statement and race context)
- Preakness Stakes (official race site; venue and scheduling information)
- Belmont Stakes / NYRA (official Belmont Stakes information)