Kentucky Derby Context: Golden Tempo

A dedicated late runner, Golden Tempo closed last-to-first in his first two starts, winning January’s Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds by nearly a length in his stakes debut, and the bay colt followed with a non-threatening third in the Risen Star (G2). Golden Tempo was more of a late factor while adding blinkers for his final prep, the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), rallying to finish third by a length. And if he can keep improving in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Golden Tempo will look to make a serious impact from off the pace.

OWNER: Golden Tempo races under the colors of Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) and St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola). Pulito and Viola were among the partners in Dynamic One, who finished 17th in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Viola co-owned 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, and other Kentucky Derby partnerships include Sandman, seventh in last year’s Run for the Roses.

TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux will send out her first Kentucky Derby starter. From Saratoga Springs, N.Y., DeVaux worked for trainers Chad Brown and Chuck Simon before going out on her own in 2018, and her stable has become prominent in recent years, with DeVaux ranking 17th by earnings among North American trainers in 2025. Notable trainees include 2025 champion turf mare She Feels Pretty and 2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner More Than Looks.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz finished second on Good Magic in 2018 and third on Tacitus in 2019, his best results from 11 previous Kentucky Derby starts. An Eclipse Award winner and leading jockey at the Fair Grounds the last two years, Ortiz started his riding career in New York in 2012. The Puerto Rican native has won the other two legs of the Triple Crown, taking the 2022 Preakness (G1) with Early Voting and the 2017 Belmont (G1) with Tapwrit.

BREEDER: A Kentucky-bred, Golden Tempo will be the first Kentucky Derby starter bred by Phipps Stable and the second for St. Elias Stable, who also bred/owned Known Agenda, eighth in the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

SIRE: A two-time Horse of the Year and winner of the 2007 Preakness, Curlin developed into one of the world’s top sires, producing numerous champions and Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish. His offspring include a pair of Preakness winners, Journalism (2025) and Exaggerator (2016), who both finished second in the Kentucky Derby, and 2013 Belmont winner Palace Malice. Curlin still seeks an elusive Kentucky Derby win as a sire, but his son, Good Magic, produced 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage.

DAM: Golden Tempo is the first stakes winner out of the Grade 3-winning Carrumba, a daughter of Bernardini who is from the same immediate family as champion three-year-old filly Heavenly Prize. Winner of the 2006 Preakness, champion three-year-old male Bernardini has proved to be a leading sire and influential broodmare sire. His unraced daughter Crowned is the dam of 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty.