Coach Cherie DeVaux mentioned earlier within the week that she can be a “little dissatisfied” if she didn’t have a robust contender on this spring’s Kentucky Derby introduced by Woodford Reserve. Three and a half months out, she appears to be properly on her approach after DeVaux trainees Golden Tempo and Mesquite uncorked highly effective stretch runs to complete 1-2 within the Grade 3 $250,000 Lecomte Stakes Jan. 17 at Truthful Grounds.
“So excited for each horses,” DeVaux mentioned.
Each newly turned 3-year-olds ran properly, with the result determined partly from their respective journeys. Golden Tempo, who broke slowly, was in a position to save floor underneath a affected person experience from Jose Ortiz, whereas Mesquite ran a wider path underneath jockey Flavien Prat.
Within the house stretch of the 1 1/16-mile race, Golden Tempo and Mesquite caught main Carson Avenue who raced on the tempo in fractions of :23.72, :47.11, and 1:11.89. With a last-to-first rally, Golden Tempo hit the wire first in a time of 1:44.98 on a quick monitor with Ortiz pumping his fist in jubilation on the end.
“I adopted Mesquite till the three-eighths pole,” Ortiz mentioned. “He went outdoors and I went inside. Fortunately, I obtained a gap, and the horse did the remainder. I am very impressed. I used to be a bit of bit frightened since you by no means know the way a horse goes to react going two turns for the primary time, and he was going through stakes horses for the primary time.”
The Lecomte was solely the second profession begin for Golden Tempo after his debut win going six furlongs final month at Truthful Grounds. Within the Lecomte, Golden Tempo was wager all the way down to favoritism within the discipline of 10 and paid $7.40 for a $2 win wager.
Mesquite, making his third begin after a route maiden victory at Churchill Downs in his second profession outing in November, completed three-quarters of a size behind Golden Tempo. Carson Avenue pale to 3rd, a neck behind the runner-up. Gun Runner Stakes winner Chip Honcho began slowly, went huge from submit 10, and completed fourth. High quality Mischief was fifth.
With Saturday’s victory, Golden Tempo earned 20 qualifying factors on the Street to the Kentucky Derby. The factors vaulted him into second place on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard behind FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile introduced by TAA winner Ted Noffey who leads with 40 factors.
The Lecomte was the primary home prep race of 2026 for 3-year-olds with Derby qualifying factors distributed on a 20-10-6-4-2 foundation to its prime 5 finishers. Churchill Downs officers use qualifying factors to publicize the 1 1/4-mile first leg of the Triple Crown and as a desire system when the race lures greater than its capability discipline measurement of 20 starters. Level totals will improve for Derby preps run later this winter and spring.
