Kentucky Derby Winner Golden Tempo to Skip Preakness Stakes, Ending Triple Crown Hopes

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Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not compete in the 2026 Preakness Stakes, officially ending hopes of a Triple Crown winner this year.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux confirmed the decision on Wednesday, stating that the team wants to give the colt additional recovery time following his dramatic victory at Churchill Downs last weekend.

Golden Tempo produced one of the most memorable performances in recent Derby history, storming from the back of the field to secure a stunning victory as a 23-1 outsider. The win also made DeVaux the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby in the race’s 152-year history.

In an official statement, DeVaux said the horse’s “health, happiness and long-term future” remained the team’s top priority. Connections have now shifted their focus toward the Belmont Stakes, scheduled for June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in New York.

The decision means the Preakness Stakes, set for May 16 at Laurel Park in Maryland, will once again be run without a chance for a Triple Crown sweep. It is the second consecutive year and the sixth time in the last eight years that the Preakness will not feature a Derby winner chasing horse racing’s most prestigious achievement.

The move has reignited debate within horse racing circles over the demanding two-week gap between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Many trainers and owners now prefer longer recovery periods for elite thoroughbreds, with modern racing schedules typically allowing horses several weeks between starts.

Maryland racing officials are reportedly considering future scheduling adjustments to encourage more Kentucky Derby participants to run in the Preakness. This year’s edition will also be staged at Laurel Park instead of its traditional home, Pimlico Race Course, which is currently undergoing major redevelopment work.

Despite missing the second leg of the Triple Crown, Golden Tempo remains one of the standout three-year-old horses in American racing and is expected to be a leading contender at the Belmont Stakes next month.

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