2026 is nearing its midpoint point, yet GOLDEN TEMPO appears a lot more than halfway to being crowned the Champion 3-year-old male.

Winning Saturday’s $2 million-dollar Belmont Stakes five weeks after a Kentucky Derby victory, this son of CURLIN has taken two of the three jewels in the Triple Crown– which carries a lot of weight with Eclipse Award voters.

There may have been some uncertainty over his last-to-first charge in the Run for the Roses at 23-1 odds, but after his 1 ¼-length score for trainer Cherie DeVaux in the third and final Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, there was nothing but admiration.

“You have to give (GOLDEN TEMPO) credit. He validated his Derby victory,” said Todd Pletcher trainer of Belmont Stakes favorite RENEGADE who was 2nd by a neck in the Derby and 3rd in the Belmont.

DeVaux said the next major target for GOLDEN TEMPO will be the August 29th Travers Stakes at Saratoga, though he will likely prep for the 1 ¼-mile Mid-Summer Derby by running in the August 1st Jim Dandy Stakes.

The Jim Dandy might bring back some of that uncertainty for GOLDEN TEMPO as he will return to a shorter, 1 1/8-mile distance after his two wins at classic mile-and-a-quarter distances.

In his last two races prior to the Kentucky Derby, he ran 3rd in both the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby and the Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

“He’s definitely a classic distance horse,” DeVaux said. “It will be interesting when he runs in the Jim Dandy to see how that translates with his maturity and more running experience. Hopefully we can see more versatility.”

Even though his next two races will be at The Spa, GOLDEN TEMPO will soon return to his familiar stall at Keeneland to get some rest and prepare for his summer campaign.

“I want to take out as many unknowns as we can and follow what has worked so far,” DeVaux said about heading back to Kentucky.

Do whatever it takes to stay golden pony-girl.