Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Golden Tempo

Jan 20, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Golden Tempo wins at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photo)

Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable’s homebred Golden Tempo earned 20 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series leaderboard after posting an exciting, last-to-first triumph in the $250,000 Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17. The unbeaten Cherie DeVaux trainee negotiated 1 1/16 miles on the fast main surface in 1:44.98 under the guidance of Jose Ortiz.

“The horse broke a little slow like he did the first time,” Ortiz said. “I was just very patient. I followed (runner-up) Mesquite until the 3/8th pole; he went outside, and I went inside. Luckily, I got an opening, and the horse did the rest. I’m very impressed. I was a little bit worried because you never know how a horse is going to react going two turns for the first time, and he was facing stakes horses for the first time.”

Mesquite, Carson Street, Chip Honcho, and Quality Mischief rounded out the top five across the wire and earned qualifying points on a 10-6-4-2 structure, respectively.

Golden Tempo was unveiled at Fair Grounds on Dec. 20 in a six-furlong maiden special weight contest. He broke slowest of all and was last at the second call of the race, but the colt put in a furious late run to graduate by 1 ½ lengths under the wire. His lifetime line now reads 2-2-0-0, $183,000.

The son of Curlin was produced from the Grade-3 winning Bernardini mare Carrumba, who earned her signature victory in the 2016 Top Flight H. (G3) at Aqueduct. She hails from a fantastic female line that traces back to champion Heavenly Prize, Grade 1 winners Good Reward, Pur Prize, Furlough, Dancing Forever, et al’s.

Golden Tempo has registered Brisnet Speed ratings of 84-88 from two starts to date, with his best work coming in the latter stages of his races. He’s from a classic-type family with a lot of room to improve going forward, and I feel that getting more distance as the season progresses will be a major benefit to the three-year-old, as well. He will target the $500,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 14 for his next assignment.