When it comes to thrilling finishes and unexpected turnarounds, few races capture attention quite like the Lecomte Stakes — and Golden Tempo's remarkable rally is a perfect example. But here's where it gets controversial: some might argue that the track conditions heavily favored speed horses, raising questions about the true strength of the winner. Still, there's no denying the excitement of Golden Tempo’s come-from-behind victory at the Fair Grounds. This impressive win in the Grade 3, $250,000 event saw the Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable’s homebred, trained by Cherie DeVaux, surge from the back of the pack to narrowly defeat stablemate Mesquite, finishing less than a length ahead. This victory not only boosts Golden Tempo’s profile but also awards him 20 valuable Kentucky Derby points, moving him closer to the coveted race.
The track at Fair Grounds predominantly favored early speed throughout the day, which made Golden Tempo's late charge even more striking. The Curlin colt finished the one-and-one-sixteenth miles in 1:44.98, guided expertly by jockey José Ortiz. Ortiz commented, “Sometimes, as a rider, you feel a bit restricted, especially on a track that favors those in front. I knew the surface was playing forward, but with a horse like him, who doesn’t have early speed, I had to stay patient and find the right moment.”
Golden Tempo had an unsteady start, breaking slowly as Crown the Buckeye shot to the front, running early fractions of 23.72 and 47.11 seconds. Carson Street and Chip Honcho kept close, while Mesquite initially settled along the rail in midpack. As the race progressed, Golden Tempo moved up from last position, passing rivals around the bend into the stretch. With an opening on the rail, he launched his stretch drive, overtaking rivals like Carson Street and Chip Honcho, ultimately winning by a neck over Mesquite. Chip Honcho finished strongly in fourth, while Quality Mischief closed late to secure fifth place.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux expressed cautious optimism: “When José started bringing him up, I was a little worried because he’s still inexperienced and was making a move inside. He seemed to idle a bit, but then he rebounded well. Overall, we’re very proud of his performance.”
Golden Tempo had previously shown promise in his debut, which was a six-furlong win on the Gun Runner Stakes undercard in December. That race demonstrated his ability to pass rivals, and his performance here further proved his potential, especially with only one start over the two-turn route. José Ortiz noted, “He broke a little slow like in his first race, so I stayed patient. I followed Mesquite until the three-eighths pole, then moved inside while he went outside. Luckily, I found an opening, and he finished the job. Considering it was his first time around two turns and racing stakes horses, I’m very pleased.”
With the 20-point tally from this win, Golden Tempo now ranks second on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, just behind Ted Noffey. Mesquite earned 10 points for his second-place finish, and Carson Street collected six points. Chip Honcho, coming in fourth, secured four points and moved into fifth with a total of 14 after his victory in the Gun Runner Stakes. Meanwhile, Quality Mischief’s fourth-place finish doubled his Derby points to four.
In terms of betting returns, Golden Tempo paid $7.40, $4.20, and $3.40 across the board. Mesquite paid $4.80 and $3.80, while Carson Street returned $6.80.
Golden Tempo was bred in Kentucky, sired by Curlin out of the Bernardini mare Carrumba. His record now stands at 2 wins from 2 starts, with earnings reaching $183,000.
Looking ahead, the next step on the Fair Grounds’ Road to the Kentucky Derby leads to the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes scheduled for Saturday, February 15. This race will carry increased points of 50-25-15-10-5, making it an even more crucial opportunity for contenders to secure their tickets to Churchill Downs.
So, do you believe Golden Tempo’s stunning rally was a sign of true class, or was it heavily influenced by the day’s track conditions? And more broadly, how much stock should we put in stakes wins when the track favors certain racing styles? Share your thoughts in the comments — are you convinced of Golden Tempo’s potential, or do you think the race's circumstances tell a different story?
