After a dramatic Kentucky Derby win, trainer Cherie DeVaux says Golden Tempo is doing fine and the Preakness remains an option.
Golden Tempo’s Kentucky Derby win didn’t just deliver an upset, it set up a new countdown: will the 2026 winner chase the next Triple Crown stop at Preakness time?
In the morning after the race. Golden Tempo’s trainer. Cherie DeVaux. said the horse was doing “fine. ” offering a clear signal that recovery is the immediate focus.. Golden Tempo rallied from the back of the pack to win by a neck. turning a long-shot effort into front-page momentum just 24 hours earlier.. The storyline has quickly expanded beyond the track. with DeVaux experiencing a sudden surge of attention after becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.
What happens next hinges on a question fans and racing teams ask after every major start: how does the horse come out of it? Even with a win this emphatic, DeVaux framed the next decision as conditional, tied to what Golden Tempo looks like in the days that follow.
Meanwhile, the racing calendar waits for an answer.. The Preakness is set for May 16 at Laurel Park, and the draw is scheduled for May 11.. DeVaux indicated that if Golden Tempo remains in “tip-top shape,” the Preakness will be discussed seriously.. But she also suggested the team could pivot if the horse doesn’t show the signs they want after such a strenuous run two weeks earlier.
This matters because the Triple Crown trail is increasingly shaped by training realities, not just tradition. In recent years, some winners have skipped the Preakness, reflecting a growing caution about running horses back quickly.
The broader debate is also bubbling in racing circles: whether the gap between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness should be extended in future years.. DeVaux didn’t dismiss the history of the Triple Crown. but her comments acknowledged that today’s horses are managed differently than they were decades ago.. The implication is simple: talent can be real, but timing and physical readiness are just as important.
At the same time, the race itself offered plenty of reasons for optimism.. Golden Tempo’s run featured a patient ride that saved ground. then surged late to catch Renegade in the final stretch.. DeVaux credited the jockey for positioning and timing. adding that the horse was capable even after being left far behind early.
In this context, Golden Tempo’s Preakness prospects look plausible, but not automatic. DeVaux said the decision is ultimately about the horse, and that “constitution” could play a role in whether this looks like a good next step—or a detour toward another plan.
For now, fans are left with the most suspenseful part of racing: waiting to see how Golden Tempo moves, feels, and bounces back, and whether the next chapter of the Triple Crown gets the green light.