Golden Tempo Ratified His Class and Achieved a Solid Victory in the Belmont Stakes
- Turf Diario
- hace 1 hora
- 3 min de lectura
Following his surprise victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the son of Curlin confirmed his leadership among the colts by shining at Saratoga
For 5 weeks, there was more talk about what he hadn't done than what he had achieved. That the trip had favored him in the Kentucky Derby (G1). That the violent pace of the race had been key to his deep closing kick. That Renegade(Into Mischief) had suffered worse luck. That his team had let the opportunity to chase the Triple Crown slip away by skipping the Preakness Stakes (G1).
All of that was left behind this Saturday at Saratoga. With another demonstration of immense class, Golden Temposurged once again from the back of the field to capture the Belmont Stakes (G1) and confirm that his victory at Churchill Downs was far from a fluke. The son of Curlin, bred by Phipps Stable and also defending the colors of St. Elias Stable, thus transformed into the definitive leader of the 3-year-old generation in the United States.
Ridden by José Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux, the dark bay scored by 1 1/4 lengths over Commandment (Into Mischief), while the favorite Renegade had to settle for third place.
"I think today it was proven," Ortiz summarized when asked if the race served to clear up the doubts that had surrounded the Derby.
And it is hard for anyone to argue with that.
The story was written from behind once more. After breaking from post 9, Golden Tempo brushed the gate and trailed at the back during the initial meters. Ahead of him, Powershift (Constitution) and Growth Equity (Nyquist) set fractions of 23s96/100, 48s29/100, and 1m12s38/100, a far cry from the violent pace at which the Kentucky Derby had been contested.
However, this time the trip served as an excuse for no one.
Ortiz began to move him much earlier than at Churchill Downs, and the colt responded with a remarkable acceleration. He advanced wide on the far turn at the same time that Commandment launched his own charge on the outside.
As the pacesetters began to feel the effort, both closers swept past them. But in the decisive furlong, Golden Tempoproved once again that he possessed an extra gear.
He covered the 2000 meters in 2m3s49/100 and added the second leg of the Triple Crown to a campaign that keeps growing race after race.
"I waited for the right moment to ask for his maximum effort. When I did, he responded immediately," Ortiz explained.
The victory held a very special meaning for the owners. For Vinnie and Teresa Viola of St. Elias Stable, it represented the first Belmont Stakes of their lives. For the historic Phipps family, on the other hand, it meant reconnecting with a tradition that spans generations.
The last Belmont winner for the legendary silks had been the unforgettable Easy Goer (Alydar) back in 1989.
"These are the races you dream of winning when you are a kid," an emotional Daisy Phipps Pulito, racing manager for the stable, shared. "My family has been linked to New York, Belmont Park, and Saratoga for over a hundred years. They are our home tracks. This is something very special."
It was also a historic day for DeVaux, who became the first female trainer to win two legs of the Triple Crown and only the second woman in history to conquer the Belmont Stakes.
Far from regretting the decision to bypass the Preakness, the professional was convinced that the freshening was fundamental.
"We made the right call. I don't think we would have had the same horse today had he run two weeks after the Derby," she explained. "Every individual is different, and he needed time to keep developing."
The big question now is what comes next.
As Cherie DeVaux advanced, the main target for the summer will be the Travers Stakes (G1), the most important race at Saratoga for 3-year-olds (historically, of course). And after what transpired in the Derby and the Belmont, it is hard to imagine Golden Tempo being underestimated ever again. Naturally, the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) could crown his campaign.
Because if there is one thing he made clear this Saturday, it is that he no longer needs excuses, favorable trips, or explanations. He is simply the best three-year-old in the United States.
