Kentucky Derby winner Cherie DeVaux‘s Golden Tempo will not participate in the upcoming Preakness Stakes, the racing team announced Wednesday. The decision comes just days after Golden Tempo’s historic win at Churchill Downs, making DeVaux the first woman to train a Derby champion. Golden Tempo won the race as a 23-1 long shot, coming from last place to claim victory in a dramatic finish.
Instead of chasing the Triple Crown, the team has chosen to give Golden Tempo extra rest and focus on the Belmont Stakes, scheduled for June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York.
“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. His health, happiness, and long-term future will always remain our top priority,” Cherie DeVaux and her team said in a statement.
The team acknowledged the excitement around a possible Triple Crown run but said Golden Tempo’s well-being comes first.
The Preakness Stakes is set to take place at Laurel Park on May 16, but for the sixth time in eight years, there will be no chance for a Triple Crown winner. Golden Tempo is the third Derby winner in five years to skip the Preakness, reflecting a broader trend where trainers opt for longer breaks between major races.
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