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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Golden Tempo showed exactly why he is a great closer, and his stretch run at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday delivered more history for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz from 12 lengths off the lead, Golden Tempo surged from the back of the pack to win the 158th rendition of the race. The victory came five weeks after his last-to-first charge to win the Kentucky Derby.
"Golden Tempo is amazing. Jose is amazing," said DeVaux. "I think he needed to do this to kind of show that he was meant to win the Derby and that he is a horse that belongs in that conversation of being one of the top 3-year-olds."
Golden Tempo held off Commandment to win by a length and a quarter at odds of 6-1. Commandment was second and favorite Renegade placed third.
"I followed them closely in the second turn," Ortiz said. "They started to pick it up, so I did as well. I was just waiting for the right time to go all in. When I asked him to go, my horse responded."
DeVaux, after becoming the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, is the second in four years to do so at the Belmont. Jena Antonucci won it with Arcangelo in 2023. DeVaux is the first woman to win multiple Triple Crown races.
"It's overwhelming," DeVaux said. "All the credit goes to Golden Tempo, who won the race, and Jose did a wonderful job of making it happen. But I'm just so fortunate to be in this position. It's history-making, and I've kind of shied away from it, but I'm really grateful that I am that person."
DeVaux was born in Saratoga Springs and began her training career there, but she doesn't call herself a Saratoga native. She spends most of her time in Kentucky now.