History-making trainer undecided on running Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo in Preakness

The Washington Times·May 3

History-making trainer undecided on running Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo in Preakness

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Soon after Cherie DeVaux’s wait-and-see answer Sunday morning about her Kentucky Derby winner’s next stop on the Triple Crown trail, an official from the Preakness called to congratulate the history-making trainer and invite Golden Tempo to the series’ middle jewel in Maryland. Getting an official invitation checked off one detail for DeVaux, who on Saturday became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. Golden Tempo’s Preakness fate could be answered later this week as DeVaux monitors the horse’s recovery from a remarkable yet demanding rally from last place that won the 152nd Derby at Churchill Downs by a neck as a 23-1 long shot. “As long as he’s in tip-top shape, we’ll talk about it,” said DeVaux, who vanned Golden Tempo over to Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, the morning after the race. “It is on the table, but it’s really up to him.” The usual post-Derby dilemma for trainers and owners is whether their horses are up for the two-week turnaround at the Preakness. This year, the race is at Laurel Park on May 16 while the traditional Pimlico Race Course is rebuilt. The Triple Crown’s middle jewel will go off at a shorter 1