Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness Stakes
Yahoo Sports • • general
Key Points:
- Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will skip the May 16 Preakness Stakes, with trainer Cherie DeVaux opting to target the Belmont Stakes on June 6 instead.
- DeVaux cited the need to give Golden Tempo more recovery time following his intense Kentucky Derby effort as the reason for the decision.
- Golden Tempo is the second straight Derby winner to bypass the Preakness, fueling ongoing debate about whether the Triple Crown schedule needs adjustment for modern Thoroughbreds.
- The traditional two-week gap between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness is increasingly viewed by trainers as too short and potentially harmful for horses' long-term performance.
- The Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park this year due to Pimlico's renovations, with plans to return to Pimlico in 2027, and as of now, none of the Derby runners have committed to the Preakness.
