Golden Tempo claimed the Lecomte in a wide-open finish

The son of Curlin earned golden points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Fair Grounds, and is now expected to target the Louisiana Derby (G2)

Golden Tempo kept his undefeated record intact at Fair Grounds / FAIR GROUNDS

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (Special for Turf Diario).— With just three and a half months to go before the first Saturday in May, trainer Cherie DeVaux is seeing her classic ambitions take concrete shape. Days ago, she admitted that given the quality of the bloodstock in her barn, she would feel "a bit disappointed" if she didn't head to Churchill Downs with strong contenders for both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Following Saturday’s events at Fair Grounds, everything suggests she is well on her way to meeting that goal.

The star of the show was Golden Tempo, who confirmed his massive potential with an authoritative victory in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), one of the early stops on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The son of Curlin, bred by Phipps Stable and racing for their colors in partnership with St. Elias Stable, claimed the $250,000 race, an event that often sets early trends for the generation.

Over the 1,700-meter distance, the bay showed both grit and class. Despite a troubled start, Jose Ortiz remained patient, saving ground along the rail and waiting for the right moment. In the homestretch, Golden Tempo launched a powerful last-to-first rally, catching Carson Street (Street Sense) at the wire and finishing 3/4 of a length ahead of stablemate Mesquite (Union Rags), completing a resounding 1-2 finish for DeVaux.

"I followed Mesquite until the 600-meter mark; he moved out and I stayed inside. A gap opened and the horse did the rest," explained Ortiz, who celebrated with a fist pump after crossing the wire in 1m44s98/100 on a fast track.

The trainer did not hide her enthusiasm: "I’m very happy for both horses and their owners. Golden Tempo impressed me a lot. There are always doubts when a colt goes two turns for the first time, especially against stakes company, but he responded fantastically."

This was only the second start for Golden Tempo, who debuted with a win in December over 1,400 meters, also at Fair Grounds. His rapid progression explains why the public backed him as the betting favorite. With this win, he earned 20 qualifying points and jumped to second place in the Derby standings, trailing only early leader Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), who has 40 points.

The Lecomte was also the first domestic prep race of the 2025 season to award points under the 20-10-6-4-2 system, which determines entry priority should the field exceed the 20-runner limit. Historically, the race has produced Derby winners like War Emblem (Our Emblem) and Mandaloun (Into Mischief), though neither actually won the Lecomte.

Golden Tempo’s classic profile is backed by his pedigree. He is a son of Curlin, one of today’s elite sires, whose 2026 stud fee at Hill ’n’ Dale Farms was set at $225,000. His dam, Carrumba (Bernardini), was a stakes winner and G1-placed, and this colt represents her first winner, reinforcing the genetic power of the cross.

DeVaux’s big day was rounded out earlier when the filly Atropa (Into Mischief) finished third in the Silverbulletday Stakes (L), a qualifier for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), confirming the trainer also has competitive stock among the females. That race was won by Taken by the Wind, from the first crop of G1 winner Rock Your World, another promising son of Candy Ride.

With a colt climbing fast on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and a filly already positioned for the Oaks, Cherie DeVaux is beginning to justify her earlier words. There is still a long way to go, but Golden Tempo has made it clear that his name is now a serious part of the conversation for the American spring classics.