Kentucky Derby Winner Golden Tempo Skips Preakness for Belmont

Golden Tempo, the longshot horse that won the Kentucky Derby last week, will not chase the Triple Crown.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced Wednesday that she and the owners decided to skip the Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Laurel Park in Maryland. The team will aim for the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

"We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run," DeVaux wrote in a statement. She became the first woman to train a Derby winner. "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."

Kentucky Derby winners often skip the Preakness. Golden Tempo is the third in the last five years to do so. Last year's winner, Sovereignty, also passed on the race. Trainer Bill Mott and Godolphin Racing gave the horse extra rest before targeting the Belmont.

Trainers and owners cite the tight two-week gap between the Derby and Preakness. They avoid pushing their horses with the quick turnaround, even though the schedule draws debate. Racing teams keep horses in training rather than racing.

The last Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018. American Pharoah won it before him in 2015.

No horse from the Kentucky Derby field of 18 will run in the Preakness. Golden Tempo was the only contender for the second leg, but the connections ruled it out.

The 3-year-old bay thoroughbred colt rallied down the stretch in the 1¼-mile Derby at 23-1 odds to win. The victory sparked wild celebrations for DeVaux and the owners.

"I don't even have any words right now," an emotional DeVaux said on the NBC broadcast after beating early favorite Renegade.

Jockey Jose Ortiz claimed his first Derby win on his 11th try. He held off his brother Irad Ortiz, who rode the Todd Pletcher-trained horse.