To All the Doubters… The summer of Golden Tempo reached even greater heights after the reigning Kentucky Derby (G1) champion collected his second Triple Crown jewel in the $2 million Belmont (G1), Saturday at Saratoga. Counted out as the fourth betting choice in the field of nine sophomore stars, Golden Tempo, with Jose Ortiz back in the irons, was unrelenting in a furious final push that secured the 1 ¼-length victory. It was a well-deserved moment of validation for the Curlin colt, who proved that his Derby triumph at 23-1 was no fluke. Trained by Cherie DeVaux for breeders/owners Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, Golden Tempo has amassed over $4.6 million in purse earnings from six career starts (4-0-2). At 6-1 on Saturday, he paid $14. Banner Day Deterministic would not be outdone Saturday at Saratoga, delivering a record-setting effort in a successful defense of his $1 million Manhattan (G1T) title. Under the steady hand of rider Kendrick Carmouche, the 5-year-old son of Liam’s Map–Giulio’s Jewel reached the wire a half-length clear of rallying Test Score, stopping the clock in a course-record time of 1:50.50. The previous record for 1 3/16 miles on the Saratoga turf (1:51.40) was set by Say the Word in 2020. Unbeaten in five straight going back to last May’s Fort Marcy (G2T), Deterministic has reeled in over $2.6 million purse earnings for owners St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable. Trained by Miguel Clement, Deterministic (9-2) paid $11.84. Like I Never Left It was a triumphant return to the United States circuit for Nysos, who confidently captured the $1 million Metropolitan (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga. Competing on home soil for the first time since a runner-up outing in February’s Saudi Cup (Gr. 1), the 5-year-old son of Nyquist–Zetta Z was simply too much to handle in a commanding four-length decision. The Bob Baffert-trained marvel has now won eight of 10 starts, including seven at the graded stakes level, to raise his lifetime purse earnings total to nearly $5.3 million. As the 7-5 choice on Saturday, Nysos paid $4.94. In Stride No barrier proved too great for Reef Runner en route to a hard-fought half-length score in Saturday’s $500,000 Jaipur (G1T) at Saratoga. The impressive showcase under five-time Eclipse Award winning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. netted the 5-year-old son of The Big Beast–Paradise Bay an automatic bid into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) on October 31 at Keeneland. Reef Runner competed in last year’s edition of the five-furlong Turf Sprint, finishing fourth. The Jaipur represents the first Grade 1 tally for the David Fawkes charge, who now stands at 9-5-5 with nearly $2.2 million banked across 25 starts for owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong. As the 5-1 third choice, Reef Runner paid $12.48. Flying High Slay the Day was simply untouchable in the 12th running of the $200,000 Soaring Softly (G3T), Sunday at Saratoga. Entering the 5 ½-furlong turf tilt off a runner-up Mamzelle (G3T) effort on April 30, the 3-year-old Brian Lynch trainee exuded class and composure in a patient 2 ¾-length victory. The second graded success of Slay the Day’s young career joins the Limestone (G3T), which she picked up on April 10 at Keeneland. A standout performer through six starts for owner Flying Dutchmen, the sophomore Into Mischief filly is 3-2-0 with over $395,000 banked in purse earnings. As the Soaring Softly’s 3-5 choice, Slay the Day paid $3.36. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
