Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo wins the 2026 Belmont Stakes

Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo has secured the third leg of the Triple Crown with a dramatic comeback victory at the 158th Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs.

Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, the impressive colt charged down the stretch to hold off a late challenge from Commandment.

Pre-race favourite Renegade was forced to settle for third place behind the leading pair at the historic upstate New York venue.

Historic milestone for DeVaux

The triumph marks another significant achievement for trainer Cherie DeVaux, who recently made history as the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner.

Competing in her hometown of Saratoga Springs, the celebrated horsewoman now becomes only the second female trainer to win the Belmont in the past four years.

Despite a much slower pace than their previous victory at Churchill Downs, the powerful runner still closed effectively to complete the 1 1/4-mile course in two minutes and 3.49 seconds.

Saratoga bids farewell

This weekend marked the third and final occasion that the prestigious American classic will be held at Saratoga Race Course.

The temporary upstate relocation was necessitated by the ongoing demolition and reconstruction of its traditional home on the border of Queens and Long Island.

Racing officials have confirmed that the grueling endurance test will return to a state-of-the-art Belmont Park facility next year.