In a statement posted Tuesday afternoon on X, trainer Cherie DeVaux announced that the GI Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (Curlin) will not be running in the GI Preakness Stakes. It’s another blow to the race that has clearly become the weak link in the Triple Crown. The only horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby to commit to the Preakness at this point is the maiden, Ocelli (Connect), who was a surprising third.
“After much thoughtful discussion as a team, we have decided that Golden Tempo will bypass the Preakness Stakes,” read a statement attributed to Cherie DeVaux Racing.
“We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run. The enthusiasm from racing fans, owners, and our entire team has meant more to us than we can properly express.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort. His health, happiness, and long-term future will always remain our top priority.
“We are looking forward to pointing him toward the Belmont Stakes and are excited for what lies ahead with this very special horse.
“Thank you again to everyone who has supported and believed in this journey alongside us.”
This will be the last Preakness run by the team at 1/ST Racing. Mike Rogers, the executive vice president of racing for 1/ST, said the news of ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Golden Tempo’s defection was a blow.
“Initially, when I heard the news, it was a gut punch,” he said. “You’re always hoping for the best. When someone like Cherie and (co-owner) Daisy (Phipps Pulito) put their horse first, you can’t criticize that decision. You respect it and you move on.”
Sovereignty (Into Mischief) also passed the 2025 Preakness to point for the Belmont. In 2022, Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) also bypassed the second jewel of the Triple Crown and ran next in the Belmont.
The issue has become the spacing of the Triple Crown races. Most trainers are very wary of running their horses back in just two weeks, especially when there is the option of waiting five weeks and coming back in the Belmont.
“I’ve long been a proponent of spacing these races out and I think it is something that has to be done,” Rogers said.
NYRA, for its part, said that it was willing to entertain the discussion.
“We are always willing to engage with Churchill Downs and the Maryland Jockey Club to ensure the continued success of the Triple Crown,” said NYRA Vice President of Communications Patrick McKenna.
Efforts to change the spacing of the races have not yielded any results, but perhaps the defection of another Derby winner from the Preakness could reignite the conversation. If Derby winners continue to pass the Preakness, that also puts NYRA in a bad situation as it means losing out on the chance to present a race with the potential of crowning a Triple Crown champion.
With Golden Tempo out, the Preakness favorite could be ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), the impressive winner of the GII Pat Day Mile on Derby Day. Reached by text Wednesday, trainer Bob Baffert said: “It’s very tempting, but no decision yet.” Not only would Crude Velocity be coming back in two weeks, but he would be stretching out from a mile to a mile and three-sixteenths.
Trainer Whit Beckman had originally ruled out starting in the Preakness with Ocelli, but after reevaluating the situation he is ready to give the Triple Crown another try.
“I grew up watching the Preakness and it was all Derby runners in there,” Beckman said. “You never had a Preakness without a Derby runner. When you have a horse that is this fit, this healthy and giving you all the signs, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with running them back in two weeks. I understand it is challenging, but I don’t think we’re sacrificing anything. The Triple Crown is a prestigious thing to be a part of. Wayne (Lukas) never shied away from a Preakness and he won a ton of them.”
Preakness announcement pic.twitter.com/8JQu7VZlRC
— Cherie DeVaux (@reredevaux) May 6, 2026
