After the Derby: What’s Next for Golden Tempo and the Road to Preakness?
Golden Tempo shocked the field at Churchill Downs — now the Triple Crown conversation shifts to Laurel Park for a Preakness Stakes unlike any other.
The 152nd Kentucky Derby is done, and Golden Tempo is your winner. Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose Ortiz, the 23/1 shot came from the back of the pack to run down the field in one of the most dramatic Derby finishes in years. The champagne is barely dry, but Triple Crown season moves fast — the 2026 Preakness Stakes is just two weeks away, and the questions are already piling up. Will Golden Tempo run back? Who are the live Preakness contenders? And what does it mean that this year’s race is heading to Laurel Park instead of Pimlico?
Here’s what you need to know right now.
Golden Tempo’s Derby Win — The Biggest Storylines
A Historic Training Achievement
Golden Tempo’s Derby win made headlines well beyond the racing world. Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner — a landmark moment that dominated mainstream sports coverage throughout the weekend and into the week. The victory was built on patience: DeVaux pointed her charge carefully through the prep season and resisted the temptation to over-race him. The result was a fresh, confident colt arriving at Churchill Downs with a race-winning kick.
Jose Ortiz’s Career-Defining Weekend
The riding performance may have been just as remarkable as the training. Jose Ortiz had already won the Kentucky Oaks aboard a different horse on Friday, and then came back 24 hours later to take the Derby on Golden Tempo — making him only the ninth jockey in history to complete the Oaks/Derby double in the same week.
Ortiz is no overnight sensation. He came up through Puerto Rico’s Hipódromo Camarero circuit alongside his brother Irad, fought back from serious early-career injuries including a punctured lung, and ground his way through the ultra-competitive NYRA circuit with year totals above 300 wins. His Eclipse Award in 2017 (for the Belmont Stakes win aboard Tapwrit and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win on Good Magic) marked his arrival as a national star. But the Derby had eluded him. Close calls with Good Magic and Tacitus became part of his story.
The 2026 Derby win rewrites that chapter entirely. His ride on Golden Tempo — patient, ground-saving, perfectly timed — drew widespread praise as a masterclass in big-race horsemanship. That combination of Oaks and Derby in the same weekend cements his case as a future Hall of Famer.
What Happened to the Favorites?
Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable, took heavy money and finished second after a rough trip breaking from post 1. He was bumped early, settled farther back than ideal, still launched a huge middle move, and nearly caught Golden Tempo in the final yards. The handicapping community is largely in agreement: he may have been the best horse in the race. The rail draw just made his job significantly harder.
The late scratch of The Puma — pulled race day due to a swollen leg — created last-minute chaos for bettors who had built tickets around him. Silent Tactic scratched earlier in the week with a bruised foot. Both horses enter the post-Derby period as live ‘what if’ questions with Triple Crown legs still ahead.
The 2026 Preakness Stakes — Laurel Park Changes Everything
The 151st Preakness Stakes takes place Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland — not at its traditional home of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Pimlico is currently undergoing a $400 million redevelopment and will not reopen until 2027. This is the first time in the modern era the Preakness has been held anywhere other than Pimlico.
| Horse | Trainer | Derby Status | Preakness Status | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Velocity | Bob Baffert | Did not run — Pat Day Mile winner | Likely in; connections signalled intent | +250 |
| Golden Tempo | Cherie DeVaux | Won the Kentucky Derby | Decision pending; draw May 11 | +300 |
| Ottinho | Chad Brown | Did not run — Blue Grass 2nd | Targeting Preakness fresh | +450 |
| Napoleon Solo | Chad Summers | Did not run — bypassed for Preakness | Shipping to Laurel ~May 10 | +700 |
| Chip Honcho | Steve Asmussen | Did not run — Gun Runner Stakes winner | Confirmed Preakness target | +800 |
| Iron Honor | Chad Brown | Did not run — Gotham Stakes winner | Working sharply at Belmont | +1000 |
| Silent Tactic | TBA | Scratched Derby — bruised foot | Connections targeting Preakness | +1200 |
| Taj Mahal | Brittany Russell | Did not run — Federico Tesio winner | Already on-site at Laurel | +1500 |
| The Hell We Did | Todd Fincher | Did not run — Lexington 2nd | Already on-site at Laurel | +2000 |
A Much Smaller, More Intimate Event
Anyone expecting the classic ‘Freakness’ infield party experience will need to adjust their expectations. Attendance at Laurel Park is capped at approximately 4,800 patrons — the event is already sold out. There is no infield. The atmosphere will be far more premium and boutique compared to the 50,000-plus fans Pimlico regularly hosted.
Laurel Park is located about 21 miles from Baltimore and 23 miles outside Washington D.C. at 198 Laurel Race Track Road, Laurel, Maryland 20725. The Alibi Breakfast — the long-running Preakness tradition dating back to the 1930s — will still take place on Thursday, May 14. Black-Eyed Susan Day (the 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 fillies’ race) runs as usual the Friday before on May 15.
What the Venue Shift Means for Handicappers
Laurel Park is a track Mid-Atlantic trainers and jockeys know well — it’s part of the regular circuit, not an unfamiliar postcode. That may slightly favour Maryland-based operations and horses with prior Laurel experience. Speed horses capable of securing position early could also benefit from the track’s configuration relative to Pimlico. Nothing is a lock at this stage, but Black-Eyed Susan Day on Friday will be essential viewing — the bias data and pace shape from that card will inform Saturday’s Preakness betting significantly.
TV and Betting
Post time for the Preakness is approximately 6:50 PM ET. CNBC kicks off coverage earlier in the afternoon, NBC takes over at 4 PM, and Peacock will carry a full digital stream. You can wager on the Preakness from Connecticut right now at MyWinners — open the app, fund your account, and get your positions in ahead of Monday’s draw.
The Preakness Field — Who’s In, Who’s Out
Golden Tempo: Decision Pending
Connections have not committed. Trainer Cherie DeVaux shipped the colt back to her Keeneland base on the morning of May 3 and indicated that his training over the next two weeks will determine the decision. Her position: “he needs to be doing as well in the next two weeks as he was going into the Derby.” Health, energy, and soundness are the watchwords. A decision is expected closer to the May 11 draw. Recent years show Derby winners can change course late — Catching Freedom (2024) and Sandman (2025) were both non-factors in Preakness planning immediately post-Derby, then ended up running and finishing third.
Renegade: Likely Skipping for Belmont
Todd Pletcher confirmed after the race that Renegade is not under Preakness consideration. The colt shipped to Saratoga on Tuesday and connections will assess from there. The Belmont Stakes on June 6 appears to be the next target. If Golden Tempo also bypasses the Preakness, a potential rematch at Belmont becomes one of the summer’s most anticipated storylines.
Horses Already Pointing to Laurel
The Maryland Jockey Club listed 16 possibles for the 14-horse maximum field. Key names beyond Golden Tempo include:
Crude Velocity — Bob Baffert-trained Pat Day Mile winner on Derby day, unbeaten in three starts. The likely morning-line favourite if he runs.
Ottinho — Blue Grass Stakes runner-up for Chad Brown, bypassed the Derby and arrives fresh. Fresh shooters are historically dangerous against tired Derby runners.
Silent Tactic — Scratched from the Derby with a bruised foot, connections have hinted at a Preakness target. A classic overlooked angle against Derby returnees.
Chip Honcho — Steve Asmussen’s Gun Runner Stakes winner, worked a bullet five furlongs on Derby day and is confirmed pointing to the Preakness.
Napoleon Solo — Champagne Stakes winner bypassed the Derby specifically for the Preakness, shipping to Laurel around May 10.
Iron Honor — Gotham Stakes winner for Chad Brown, worked a sharp half-mile at Belmont Park on Derby Saturday.
Taj Mahal — Already on-site at Laurel, Federico Tesio Stakes winner, worked a bullet five furlongs at the venue.
The Hell We Did — Lexington Stakes runner-up, also already at Laurel and working over the surface.
Betting Angles: Where the Sharp Money Goes Next
Renegade as a Bet-Back Target
Renegade is likely the consensus ‘next-out’ angle for the summer. Trip handicappers have already done the work: post 1 in an 18-horse field, bumped early, settled too far back, made a massive move on the turn, and still nearly won. If the Belmont Stakes shapes up as a smaller, cleaner field and connections give a positive training report from Saratoga, he could take serious money at odds that may still represent value.
Chief Wallabee and Ocelli
Chief Wallabee showed tactical versatility and kept grinding despite a taxing trip. Racing analysts who focus on pace and trouble lines have him high on their Derby revisit list. Ocelli went off at 70-1, finished third, and left a lot of people wondering whether that was a one-off setup or something more. Either way, if the public dismisses him in his next start, value players will be circling.
The Fresh Horse Angle at the Preakness
Ottinho is the name sharpest bettors are watching most closely. Chad Brown-trained horses that bypass the Derby and target the Preakness fresh have a strong historical record. If the Preakness field softens (especially without Golden Tempo or Renegade), Ottinho and Crude Velocity could battle for the top of the market.
Bet the 2026 Preakness at MyWinners
You can wager on the Preakness Stakes at MyWinners right now — win, place, show, exactas, trifectas, superfectas, and all the exotic combinations. Online wagering is available to Connecticut residents from home. In-venue betting is open to all guests 18 and over at East Haven (37 Frontage Rd, East Haven, CT 06512).
The field draw is Monday, May 11. Set up your account, load your funds, and get ready for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown — at a venue that’s guaranteed to make history.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026 Preakness Stakes (Preakness 151) is at Laurel Park, 198 Laurel Race Track Road, Laurel, Maryland. Pimlico Race Course is closed for a $400 million redevelopment and is expected to return as the Preakness venue in 2027.
As of early May, no decision has been confirmed. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has stated that Golden Tempo's training over the two weeks following the Derby will determine whether he attempts the Triple Crown. The field draw is Monday, May 11 at 5 PM ET, and a final decision is expected around that date.
No. Trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed after the Kentucky Derby that Renegade is not under consideration for the Preakness. The colt shipped to Saratoga and connections will assess for the Belmont Stakes on June 6. If Golden Tempo also bypasses the Preakness, a potential rematch at the Belmont becomes one of the biggest storylines of the summer.
Attendance is capped at approximately 4,800 patrons, and the event is already sold out. There is no infield at Laurel Park. The experience will be far more premium and intimate compared to the Pimlico Preakness, which regularly attracted 50,000-plus fans including the famous Infield Fest. Tickets can only be purchased at Preakness.com and are not available through secondary marketplaces at face value.
Yes. MyWinners offers full pari-mutuel wagering on the Preakness Stakes including win, place, show, exactas, trifectas, and superfectas. Connecticut residents can bet online from home. In-venue wagering is open to all guests aged 18 and over at our East Haven location (37 Frontage Rd, East Haven, CT 06512).
Photo: Maryland GovPics / CC BY 2.0
