America’s Best Racing editor Patrick Reed presents six key takeaways from a star-studded Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, focusing on the June 6 and June 5 results topped by Golden Tempo’s victory in the 158^th Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets.

A driving Belmont finish for Golden Tempo. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Tempo on Top: It will take an exceptional second-half campaign by another horse to knock Golden Tempo off the top of the 3-year-old division after the colt backed up his win in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve with another thrilling last-to-first score in the Belmont Stakes. The early pace in the 1 ¼-mile Belmont was considerably slower than it was in the Derby, making Golden Tempo’s task much tougher. No matter. Under another masterful ride by Jose Ortiz, Golden Tempo swung wide at the top of the stretch, ran past Renegade and Chief Wallabee, and then turned back a stiff challenge from Commandment on his outside to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths, giving trainer Cherie DeVaux her first Belmont win to join her history-making Kentucky Derby victory last month.

“Jose did the right thing and took him back knowing he makes that one run – not surprised that he won, but we’re really grateful that he did,” DeVaux said after the race. “He's taken a lot of steps forward, physically and mentally, and it really showed today.”

Golden Tempo, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, is now 2-for-2 at the classic mile-and-a-quarter distance. Continuing along an upward developmental path over the next two-plus months with DeVaux’s expert guidance will make him a formidable threat in the $1.25 million DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug. 29 at Saratoga.

No Shame in Second: Commandment was one of the Kentucky Derby favorites after entering the run for the roses on a four-race winning streak, including the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, but he never threatened in the race while getting bumped as he was surrounded by horses in mid-stretch. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who took the reins aboard Commandment for the first time in the Belmont Stakes, angled the Into Mischief colt widest of all at the top of Saratoga’s stretch with Golden Tempo just to his inside. From there, Commandment battled gamely but settled for second. Barring any setback, he should continue to be a factor in the major two-turn races for 3-year-olds this summer and fall.

“He ran big. He showed up. He acted like he’s going to give us a big effort and he did. He was just second-best – no excuse,” trainer Brad Cox said. “As long as he comes out of it in good order, we’ll give him a couple more shots at some Grade 1s and see what happens.”

Prat celebrates a Met Mile win. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Meeting the Met Mile Moment: Maybe it’s because he missed running in the Triple Crown series for the sport’s most successful Triple Crown trainer, Bob Baffert, but Nysos has not received his due over the past 13 months.

A leading candidate for the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Nysos was moved off the Triple Crown trail that March and did not return to the track until May 2025. All he’s done since then is win five of seven starts with two runner-up finishes, and with his latest triumph in the $1 million, Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap June 6 at Saratoga, the ultra-talented 5-year-old upped his career earnings to over $5.2 million.

Nysos came into the Met Mile off of a second to Japanese star Forever Young in the 1 1/8-mile Saudi Cup in February. Cutting back in distance proved to be right up his alley as regular rider Flavien Prat settled him off of a swift early pace before calling for his best at the top of the lane. The Nyquist colt split horses and ran away from a field that included runner-up Knightsbridge and third-place Journalism to win by four lengths.

“I almost brought him up here last year but didn’t do it,” Baffert said after the win. “We had the Met Mile targeted (this year). It takes a little bit of the sting out of the Saudi Cup. What a talent. I always thought he was one of the best older horses in training and today he showed it. Actually, I was talking to a numbers guy, and I said, ‘How can you not like my horse – this is one of the best horses I’ve ever trained?’ and he said, ‘Well, he just doesn’t fit.’ Well, I think he fits now.”

‘Danno’ rallies to a True North repeat. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Jersey’s Finest: After a runner-up start to his 5-year-old campaign in April, fan favorite Book ‘em Danno cycled back to his best form with an impressive repeat win in the $400,000, Grade 3 True North Stakes June 6. Patiently ridden by Paco Lopez, Book ‘em Danno sat off a blistering early pace set by 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato and longshot Listenupshance and cruised past both late to win by three-quarters of a length. 

The New Jersey-bred gelding boosted his career bankroll over the $2 million mark and appears all set to thrill his throng of supporters with another successful campaign as he attempts to secure a second consecutive Eclipse Award as champion male sprinter. Book ‘em Danno followed up his 2025 True North win with scores in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes and the Forego Stakes at Saratoga, but trainer Derek Ryan said after this year’s win the plan was to skip the July 25 Vanderbilt and bring ‘Danno’ back for the $500,000, Grade 1 Forego Aug. 29.

In Her Element: Another champion of 2025 strutted her stuff at the 2026 Belmont Stakes Festival as Nitrogen wowed onlookers June 5 with a dominant 12 ¾-length win in the $600,000, Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes Presented by Ford. Back at the track where she first thrived on dirt last summer, Nitrogen put a slightly disappointing start to her 4-year-old campaign in the rear-view by controlling the pace throughout under Jose Ortiz and spurting clear of her overmatched foes in early stretch. 

The Medaglia d’Oro filly had gone 1-for-3 this spring at Oaklawn Park, sent off as the heavy favorite each time in graded stakes, but she is now is 3-for-3 at Saratoga with the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 29 at the Spa an upcoming logical target. Nitrogen earned a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Oct. 31 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff with the Ogden Phipps victory. She finished second in last year’s edition at Del Mar, capping a season that earned her the Eclipse as champion 3-year-old filly.

“I just want to officially say, I’m tired of hearing everybody say she doesn’t like the dirt,” trainer Mark Casse told the NYRA press office. 

Great Saratoga week for Casse. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Casse’s World: Nitrogen’s Ogden Phipps score topped a stellar week for Mark Casse, a Hall of Fame member in both the U.S. and Canada. He won three other stakes during the festival: Counting Stars in the $500,000, Grade 1 DraftKings Acorn Stakes June 5; Classic Q in the $500,000, Grade 1 Just a Game Stakes Presented by Resolute Racing June 6 and Mi Bago in the $200,000 Kingston Stakes June 3. 

In the Acorn, Counting Stars ended Longines Kentucky Oaks victress Always a Runner’s unbeaten three-race winning streak by surging past that rival in mid-stretch to win going away. The Honor A. P. filly had finished third behind Always a Runner in the Oaks after rallying late from an inside trip, but in the 1 1/8-mile Acorn she angled wide entering the stretch under first-time rider Irad Ortiz Jr. and finished powerfully. 

What’s next for the four-time stakes winner? “We're going to try to repeat a Nitrogen (campaign from 2025),” Casse said. “So, I guess we'll see everybody in the Alabama Stakes.” The marquee $600,000, Grade 1 Alabama Presented by Keeneland Sales held at 1 ¼ miles is scheduled for Aug. 22 at the Spa.