Golden Tempo Records Final Belmont Breeze at Keeneland
The Kentucky Derby winner, Golden Tempo, has arrived at Keeneland, ready to take on the Belmont Stakes. With a 23-1 longshot in the Derby, Golden Tempo will now face a different challenge as one of the clear targets for his competitors in the $2 million Belmont. The colt's deep-closing kick in the Derby has left fans excited, but the 1 1/4-mile test will be a different story. Trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz are confident in Golden Tempo's abilities, with DeVaux noting his colt's confidence and progress since the Derby. Ortiz believes that Golden Tempo can be closer to the pace if it slows down, but he won't rush him into any position.
Golden Tempo's final breeze before the Belmont was a success, with him and So Sandy completing the work in :48 1/5 and galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:01 and 6 furlongs in 1:14 4/5. This was the third breeze since Golden Tempo's first on May 2, and it followed a more serious 5-furlong move in 1:00 1/5 on May 23. DeVaux is pleased with Golden Tempo's progress and believes he has taken another step forward.
The Belmont Stakes will be a challenging race for Golden Tempo, but DeVaux and Ortiz are confident in his abilities. If Golden Tempo emerges from the Belmont in good order, the main targets for the second half of the season will be the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga and the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland. DeVaux plans to return Golden Tempo to Keeneland after the Belmont, where he will remain until the Travers unless they opt to prep in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
On the other hand, Wathnan Racing's Commandment, who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby, recorded his final pre-Belmont breeze at Churchill Downs. The Into Mischief colt was much closer to the pace than Golden Tempo, but he still finished seven lengths behind the leader. Trainer Brad Cox is confident in Commandment's abilities and hopes that he can be on the right side of the setup this time.
Klaravich Stables' Emerging Market, who finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby, is also aiming to bounce back from the Derby. The Candy Ride colt recorded his third and final work at Saratoga ahead of the Belmont Stakes, completing a half-mile in :48.40 on the Oklahoma training track. Chad Brown, who also breezed Klaravich's Peter Pan Stakes winner Growth Equity and Three Chimneys Farm's Blue Grass Stakes runner-up Ottinho for the Belmont, is confident in Emerging Market's abilities.
The Belmont Stakes will be a challenging race for all the horses mentioned, but Golden Tempo and Commandment have the advantage of a final breeze before the race. DeVaux and Cox are confident in their horses' abilities and hope that they can perform well in the Belmont Stakes.
