Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby. He won’t be at the Preakness. And that’s becoming a familiar story.
This marks the second straight year and the third time in five years that the Derby winner has decided not to compete in the Preakness Stakes despite having a healthy horse. The reason is almost always the same: two weeks isn’t enough time.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux made the call quickly after Golden Tempo’s dramatic last-to-first Derby victory on May 2.
“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime,” DeVaux said in a statement. “We believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”
DeVaux and Golden Tempo are focused on the June 6 Belmont Stakes instead.
The pattern is pretty clear.
From 1997 to 2018, every Kentucky Derby winner ran the Preakness, keeping the Triple Crown path intact. That streak ended with Country House, who won the Derby on the disqualification of Maximum Security, was scratched from the Preakness. The sport has been wrestling with the question ever since. Maryland’s racing leaders have considered moving the Preakness one week later, from the third Saturday in May to the fourth, though no change has been made.
Of the 14 horses entered in the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, just three made the trip from Churchill Downs. None of them won the Derby. One nearly caused the biggest upset in recent memory.
Derby Day has arrived, and “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” will be here and gone before you know it. See the best moments from the race.
Aboard T O Elvis, jockey Ryusei Sakai celebrates winning The Churchill Downs Grade I stakes at 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, May 2, 2026.
Horses break from the starting gate in the first race of the day during the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Jacob Skillman from Louisville yells in excitement while attending Thurby at Churchill Downs during the week of Kentucky Derby on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Haywire, ridden by Luan Machado, Sister Jean, ridden by Jaime A Torres, and Butterfly Jasmine, ridden by Brian J Hernandez take off out of the gate for the first race of the 2026 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs during the week of Kentucky Derby on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Horses take off from the starting gate for the first race ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Lynn and Spencer Webster from Charlotte watch the first race on the card ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
People cheer in the infield as Time to Strike, ridden by John Velazquez, and Powershift, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., head down the back stretch at the 152nd Kentucky Derby in Louisville on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Kelly Green of Louisville had a unique fascinator made by Hat Haven that surrounded her face while she attended the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. May 2, 2026.
Antonio Grassa laughs with his friends ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Brecken Erickson and Maci Cox embrace after Erickson proposes in the infield during the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026.
A DJ spins tunes to the infield crowd during the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026.
People cheer during the 91st running of The Churchill Downs on 2026 Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs. May 2, 2026.
Jockey Flavien Prat aboard, Stark Contrast celebrate after winning the 35th running of The American Turf at the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on May 2, 2026.
Horses cross the finish line ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.1 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Derby Day has arrived, and “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” will be here and gone before you know it. See the best moments from the race.
Aboard T O Elvis, jockey Ryusei Sakai celebrates winning The Churchill Downs Grade I stakes at 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, May 2, 2026.
1 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Derby Day has arrived, and “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” will be here and gone before you know it. See the best moments from the race.
Aboard T O Elvis, jockey Ryusei Sakai celebrates winning The Churchill Downs Grade I stakes at 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, May 2, 2026.
2 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Horses break from the starting gate in the first race of the day during the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
3 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Jacob Skillman from Louisville yells in excitement while attending Thurby at Churchill Downs during the week of Kentucky Derby on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
4 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Haywire, ridden by Luan Machado, Sister Jean, ridden by Jaime A Torres, and Butterfly Jasmine, ridden by Brian J Hernandez take off out of the gate for the first race of the 2026 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs during the week of Kentucky Derby on Friday, May 1, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Horses take off from the starting gate for the first race ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Lynn and Spencer Webster from Charlotte watch the first race on the card ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
People cheer in the infield as Time to Strike, ridden by John Velazquez, and Powershift, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., head down the back stretch at the 152nd Kentucky Derby in Louisville on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
8 / 14
Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Kelly Green of Louisville had a unique fascinator made by Hat Haven that surrounded her face while she attended the 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Antonio Grassa laughs with his friends ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Brecken Erickson and Maci Cox embrace after Erickson proposes in the infield during the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
A DJ spins tunes to the infield crowd during the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
People cheer during the 91st running of The Churchill Downs on 2026 Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs. May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Jockey Flavien Prat aboard, Stark Contrast celebrate after winning the 35th running of The American Turf at the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on May 2, 2026.
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Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 — See the best photos from Churchill Downs
Horses cross the finish line ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Ocelli (Post 2, 6-1)
The most intriguing Derby returnee. Ocelli finished third at 70-1 odds on May 2, giving trainer Whit Beckman and jockey Tyler Gaffalione a surprise ticket to Laurel Park. He was the lone maiden in the Derby field and remains a maiden heading into Saturday. Nobody expected him to be here.
Incredibolt (post 12, 5-1)
The morning-line co-favorite among Derby runners. Incredibolt finished sixth at Churchill Downs and trainer Riley Mott moved quickly to point him to Laurel Park. Jockey Jaime Torres won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey. The connections believe the 1 3/16-mile distance suits Incredibolt better than the Derby’s mile and a quarter.
Robusta (Post 4, 30-1)
The longest shot of the Derby trio is Robusta, who finished 14th of the 14 in the Derby. The question with any horse coming back this quickly after a tough Derby is how much the race took out of him. At 30-1, it seems the market has answered that question.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Which Kentucky Derby horses are running in the 2026 Preakness Stakes
