Golden Tempo claimed victory in the 2026 Belmont Stakes held at Saratoga Race Course in New York. Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, the horse entered the competition with 9-2 odds. The victory marks a significant achievement, as Golden Tempo successfully held off Commandment to secure the win before the finish line, while the race favorite, Renegade, finished in third place.

This performance establishes Golden Tempo as the 13th horse in history to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. The horse completed the 1 1/4-mile race in a time of 2:03.49. Although the pace was slower than the Kentucky Derby, the closing speed proved sufficient to secure the win at the Saratoga venue.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux reached a notable milestone with this result, becoming the first woman to reportedly train a Kentucky Derby winner. Furthermore, she is the second woman to train a Belmont Stakes winner, following Jena Antonucci’s 2023 success with Archangelo. DeVaux, a native of Saratoga Springs, began her professional training career at this specific track.

Because Golden Tempo did not participate in the Preakness Stakes held in Maryland on May 16, a Triple Crown sweep was not possible this year. The field consisted of nine horses, with Renegade entering as the betting favorite at 8-5. Other contenders included Chief Wallabee, Commandment, and Emerging Market, all positioned at 5-1 odds.

This year marks the third and final time the Belmont Stakes is hosted at Saratoga Race Course. The event was relocated to this venue while the traditional Belmont Park facility undergoes demolition and reconstruction. Organizers expect the race to return to its historic home in Queens next year.

Typically, the Belmont Stakes is recognized as the longest of the Triple Crown events, traditionally spanning 1 1/2 miles. However, the 2026 configuration of the Saratoga main track necessitated a distance of 1 1/4 miles. This adjustment aligned the length of the Belmont Stakes with that of the Kentucky Derby.

The race field also featured longer-odds participants, including Powershift, Growth Equity, Ottinho, and Vitruivian Man, ranging from 12-1 to 20-1. The event remains a central fixture in the horse racing calendar, maintaining its reputation as the Test of the Champion despite the temporary change in location and distance.