A thrilling start to the road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks! Trainer Cherie DeVaux is already making waves this year, and it's only January. She's aiming high, stating she'd be "a little disappointed" without a strong contender in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) this spring at Churchill Downs. And with the recent performances of her horses, she's well on her way.
On January 17th at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, DeVaux's stable showcased its potential. Her two lightly raced 3-year-old colts, Golden Tempo and Mesquite, delivered a stunning 1-2 finish in the $250,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3).
"So excited for both horses. Elated for the owners," DeVaux shared, clearly thrilled with the results. To add to the excitement, her filly, Atropa, secured a third-place finish in the $145,500 Silverbulletday Stakes, a prep race for the Kentucky Oaks, earlier that Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Let's dive into the Lecomte Stakes. Both colts, now newly turned 3-year-olds, ran impressively, with their respective race journeys playing a key role. Golden Tempo, after a slow start, saved ground thanks to a patient ride by Jose Ortiz. Meanwhile, Mesquite, ridden by Flavien Prat, took a wider route around the track.
In the final stretch of the 1 1/16-mile race, they surged past the leader, Carson Street, who had been setting the pace alongside Crown the Buckeye. Golden Tempo, showcasing a remarkable last-to-first rally in only his second career start, crossed the finish line in a swift 1:44.98 on a fast track. Ortiz celebrated with a triumphant fist pump.
"I followed Mesquite until the three-eighths pole; he went outside and I went inside," Ortiz explained. "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."
Golden Tempo, the favorite, paid a rewarding $7.40 for a $2 win wager. Mesquite, in his third career start, finished just three-quarters of a length behind Golden Tempo. Carson Street took third, followed by Gun Runner Stakes winner Chip Honcho in fourth.
With this victory, Golden Tempo earns 20 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby, placing him in second on the leaderboard, just behind early favorite Ted Noffey with 40 points. The Lecomte was the first domestic prep race of 2025 to offer 42 qualifying points for the Derby, distributed to the top five finishers. Points increase as the Derby preps continue throughout the winter and spring.
Did you know? Two Kentucky Derby winners this century emerged from the Lecomte, though neither won the Lecomte itself. War Emblem, the 2002 Derby champion, finished fifth in the Lecomte, and Mandaloun, who was elevated to first in the 2021 Derby, placed third in the Lecomte.
Golden Tempo is a bay colt, bred from the classic-winning sire Curlin and Carrumba, a graded stakes winner. Curlin's stud fee is a staggering $225,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms.
But here's where it gets interesting: In the Silverbulletday Stakes, Taken by the Wind, after being placed on the veterinarian's list, made an impressive comeback, improving to 3-for-3 and proving unbeatable over a mile and 70 yards. Under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., she set a comfortable pace and won by a neck in 1:43.58.
Taken by the Wind is now unbeaten in three starts. She's a daughter of Rock Your World, racing for Magdalena Racing, NFL legend Terry Bradshaw, Graham Leveston, and Raasi Stable. She currently holds third place on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 30 points. The filly was a $20,000 purchase by McPeek out of the Gainesway consignment to the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Golden Tempo and Taken by the Wind have what it takes to make a splash in the Derby and Oaks? Share your predictions and insights in the comments below!
