Profitable the Kentucky Derby (G1) is a one-way ticket to turning into horse racing royalty, and Keeneland rolled out the purple carpet for Golden Tempo Might 30.
The son of Curlin discovered himself in a singular situation Saturday morning when the observe reopened after the renovation break at 7:30 a.m.: having the observe to himself. He wasn’t fully alone, joined by workmate So Sandy and considered one of coach Cherie DeVaux’s ponies, however the the rest of the horses ready to make use of the contemporary floor needed to look forward to the Derby winner to finish his last breeze for the June 6 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
With the observe to themselves, Golden Tempo and So Sandy, a 4-year-old stakes-placed son of Omaha Seaside , eased into their half-mile breeze collectively below the watchful eye of DeVaux and the possession groups of Phipps Secure and St. Elias Secure. They moved in tandem down the stretch, finishing the work in :48 1/5 and galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:01 and 6 furlongs in 1:14 4/5.
The work was his third since going final to first beneath the dual spires Might 2, and adopted a extra severe 5-furlong transfer in 1:00 1/5 Might 23. Saturday’s work, which he carried out inside So Sandy with Jose Ortiz aboard, was the ultimate little bit of upkeep wanted and went to plan.
“He is been stuffed with himself,” DeVaux mentioned concerning the colt within the weeks because the Derby. “He is all the time actually quiet, simply touting himself with some confidence. I am actually happy with how he is performing, he looks like he is taken one other step ahead.”
Looking for to grow to be the second consecutive Derby winner to additionally take the Belmont, Golden Tempo leaves for Saratoga Might 31.
A 23-1 longshot within the Derby, Golden Tempo may have nowhere to cover within the $2 million Belmont as one of many clear targets for his opponents. Racing followers have been handled to a thrill of his deep-closing kick as he soared previous 17 rivals, however he’ll seemingly discover himself a bit nearer on this 1 1/4-mile check with an obvious lack of pacesetters signed up thus far. DeVaux is assured that he ought to have the ability to produce the identical run in a slower setup, and that the important thing will probably be for Ortiz to time the journey correctly.
“I feel he is usually a little bit nearer if the tempo is slower, however I am not making an attempt to vary his type,” Ortiz mentioned. “I am not going to hurry him into any place. Hopefully let him get into an excellent stride and become an excellent rhythm.”
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Since successful the Kentucky Derby, Ortiz mentioned he has felt Golden Tempo develop mentally, particularly throughout the morning.
“He is beginning to work lots higher within the morning. Earlier than, you actually needed to make him work,” Ortiz mentioned. “He began stepping into that stunning stride, he is acquired a pleasant gear. He galloped out good. We have been very pleased with him at present.”
Ought to Golden Tempo emerge from the Belmont in good order, DeVaux mentioned the principle targets for the second half of the season would be the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1) at his residence observe of Keeneland. Though she retains a barn at Saratoga throughout the summer time, DeVaux mentioned Golden Tempo will return to Keeneland after the Belmont. He would stay there till the Travers until they decide to prep within the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) Aug. 1 at Saratoga. If he does run within the Jim Dandy, he would ship within the days earlier than the race after which stay at Saratoga via the Travers.
Commandment, BRown TriO Full Remaining Works
That very same tempo setup that might trigger concern for Golden Tempo may very well be excellent news for Wathnan Racing’s Commandment , who recorded his last pre-Belmont breeze Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.
Picture: Anne M. EberhardtCommandment trains April 24 at Churchill Downs
Within the Kentucky Derby, the Florida Derby (G1) winner was a lot nearer to the tempo than Golden Tempo. After a half-mile in :46.44, Commandment was 6 1/4 lengths off the lead in comparison with Golden Tempo’s 17 3/4 lengths.
The Into Mischief colt would finally end seventh, crushed 5 1/4 lengths. In three breezes since, coach Brad Cox has stored the usually laid-back work horse within a associate to “hold him trustworthy.” On Saturday, whereas working within an unraced maiden with common breeze rider Jonathan Santiago aboard, he recorded 5 furlongs in 1:00 2/5.
“His works have been actually good since (the Derby),” Cox mentioned. “I like what I’ve seen. I am hoping we will be on the correct facet of the setup this time versus the place we have been within the Derby. He ran an honest race, I believed he ran properly within the Derby.”
Additionally aiming to bounce again from the Derby is Klaravich Stables’ Rising Market . The Louisiana Derby (G2) winner was simply 2 3/4 lengths off that Kentucky Derby tempo via the opening half-mile and finally completed tenth crushed 7 3/4 lengths.
Leaving for New York quickly after, the Sweet Experience colt recorded his third and last work Saturday at Saratoga forward of the Belmont Stakes, finishing a half-mile in :48.40 on the Oklahoma coaching observe.
Rising Market is skilled by Chad Brown, who additionally breezed Klaravich’s Peter Pan Stakes (G3) winner Progress Fairness and Three Chimneys Farm’s Blue Grass Stakes (G1) runner-up Ottinho for the Belmont over the Belmont Park coaching observe. Each horses coated a half-mile in :48.44.