The Kentucky Derby 2026 winner, Golden Tempo, celebrated a spectacular victory on May 2 but captured headlines once more by opting not to compete in the upcoming Preakness Stakes.
Golden Tempo’s trainer, Cherie DeVaux, made the decision just days after securing the Derby win, stating, “Golden gave us the race of a lifetime. We believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.” This shows a clear focus on the next challenge, which is the Belmont Stakes on June 6, rather than pressing for the Preakness.
This marks the second consecutive year—and the third time in the last five years—that the winner of the Kentucky Derby has chosen to skip the Preakness Stakes. This has stirred significant conversations in the racing community regarding the scheduling and timing of these prestigious races.
From 1997 until 2018, the trend was consistent: every Kentucky Derby winner went on to run in the Preakness Stakes. However, the tune has changed, particularly after Country House’s disqualification in 2019, which led to a rethink in racing schedules. Some officials have even proposed moving the Preakness one week later, yet no amendments have been confirmed.
With Golden Tempo’s absence, just three horses from the Derby field are set to compete in the Preakness, with no Derby winner in the mix. Those three horses—Ocelli, Incredibolt, and Robusta—might bring interesting dynamics to the race.
Ocelli, who surged ahead to finish third at odds of 70-1 during the Derby, is gaining attention as a surprising entry. Meanwhile, Incredibolt enters as a morning-line co-favorite, finishing sixth in the Derby and having some seasoned connections believing he may be better suited for the shorter Preakness distance.
Robusta rounds out the Derby trio, coming off a less favorable 14th position in the Derby. The question looms whether any of these horses possess what it takes to challenge for the win.
This shift in participant dynamics not only influences the Preakness Stakes but also continues to showcase the evolving strategies among trainers concerning horse health, timelines, and race preparation. The anticipation builds as fans and bettors alike prepare for an unconventional race in which none of the top finishers from the Derby will be returning.
