The rematch between Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Golden Tempo and runner-up Renegade in the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) is still on with two weeks to go before the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux, had his second post-Derby workout at Keeneland on Saturday (May 23), going 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 under Jose Ortiz.
Breezing in company with stakes-placed 4-year-old So Sandy, Golden Tempo produced fractions of :12, :23.40, :35.20, :47.80, 1:00.20 and out three-quarters in 1:13.40 and 7 furlongs in 1:27.40.
“Really pleased with his work this morning,” DeVaux said. “Jose was aboard, and from both what he felt and what I saw, Golden Tempo looks to be in good shape to have another big race and take another step forward.
“We’re hoping to breeze back next week with a maintenance work on Friday and then ship to New York on Saturday (May 29).”
Golden Tempo is loading up for the @BelmontStakes and @jose93_ortiz looks more than ready for the ride. 🏇
Captured this at @keeneland from the half mile pole during a beautiful 5/8 workout as the team sharpens up for one of racing's biggest stages.
And behind every serious… pic.twitter.com/q1o6oZZzsA
— The Horse Whisperer Network (@thorsewp) May 23, 2026
A week ago on May 15, Golden Tempo worked 4 furlongs in 48.60.
Renegade, trained by four-time Belmont winner Todd Pletcher, posted his first post-Derby breeze on May 21 at Saratoga, going 4 furlongs in 59.80, eighth fastest of 22 at the distance.
“I thought it was very good work for Renegade,” Pletcher said. “He’s a steady work horse and he recovered really quickly and didn’t seem to be fatigued at all from it, so I’m happy with it.”
DeVaux, the first female trainer to win the Derby, was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and the track there will be the site of the Belmont for the third time as the new Belmont Park nears completion. Golden Tempo would be her first Belmont starter.
The Belmont is June 6 and will be run at 1 ¼ miles, the same distance as the Derby. Both horses skipped the Preakness Stakes (G1), won last week by Napoleon Solo, who is bypassing the Belmont for the Haskell Stakes (G1 at Monmouth Park on July 18.
The way Powershift worked alongside Renegade a few days ago may have earned the maiden winner a shot at the Belmont. Winner of his first race at third asking on Derby Day (May 2) at Churchill Downs, Powershift also was timed in 49.80 for 4 furlongs.
Mike Repole owns Powershift and co-owns Renegade along with Robert and Lawana Low.
“I’ve got to talk to Mike, but we are considering the Belmont,” Pletcher said. “We’ve always thought a lot of him, and I think they complement each other’s racing styles. It’s in play.”
Renegade is a deep closer, while Powershift stalked the pace and won the 1 1/16-mile race at Churchill by 2 ¾ lengths. Irad Ortiz, Jr., who was aboard Renegade for the Derby, also rode Powershift to victory.
Renegade drew the rail for the Derby, was bumped back at the start, and was bumped again by Ocelli in the stretch before coming up a neck short of Golden Tempo, who came through with a remarkable last-to-first run.
“He’s a brave horse and a lot of horses might not have rebounded and run as well as he did considering all the bumping around he took early,” Pletcher said. “I thought he ran a very courageous race. He was a little tired afterwards, which you would expect, but it seems like his energy level is back where we want it now.”
Other Belmont possibles include Chief Wallabee (4th in the Derby), Commandment (7thin the Derby), So Happy (9th in the Derby), Emerging Market (10th in the Derby), Growth Equity (1st in the Peter Pan), Ottinho (2nd in the Blue Grass), Ocelli (3rd in the Derby, 4th in the Preakness), Chip Honcho (3rd in the Preakness), Potente (12th in the Derby) and Talk to Me Jimmy (2nd in the Peter Pan).
After the final race of his career, whenever that is, Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Golden Tempo will enter stud at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.
The 3-year-old homebred for Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, Golden Tempo is 3-0-2 in five starts with earnings of $3.4 million. He also won a maiden race and the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds.
“Golden Tempo is the direct result of our family's generations of foundational breeding. Partnering with St. Elias Stables culminated in a historic Kentucky Derby win, and that is gratifying on so many levels," co-breeder Daisy Phipps Pulito said in a release distributed on behalf of Lane's End.
Golden Tempo is a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, who has sired 26 Grade 1 winners.
Golden Tempo’s next start is set for the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on June 6.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
