Trainer Cherie DeVaux said earlier in the week that she would be a "little disappointed" if she did not have a strong contender in this spring's Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. Three and a half months out, she seems to be well on her way after DeVaux trainees Golden Tempo and Mesquite uncorked powerful stretch runs to finish 1-2 in the Grade 3 $250,000 Lecomte Stakes Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds.

"So excited for both horses," DeVaux said.

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Both newly turned 3-year-olds ran well, with the outcome decided in part from their respective trips. Golden Tempo, who broke slowly, was able to save ground under a patient ride from Jose Ortiz, while Mesquite ran a wider path under jockey Flavien Prat.

In the home stretch of the 1 1/16-mile race, Golden Tempo and Mesquite caught leading Carson Street who raced on the pace 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 fast track with Ortiz pumping his fist in jubilation at the finish.

"I followed Mesquite until the three-eighths pole," Ortiz said. "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."

The Lecomte was only the second career start for Golden Tempo after his debut win going six furlongs last month at Fair Grounds. In the Lecomte, Golden Tempo was bet down to favoritism in the field of 10 and paid $7.40 for a $2 win wager.

Mesquite, making his third start after a route maiden victory at Churchill Downs in his second career outing in November, finished three-quarters of a length behind Golden Tempo. Carson Street faded to third, a neck behind the runner-up. Gun Runner Stakes winner Chip Honcho started slowly, went wide from post 10, and finished fourth. Quality Mischief was fifth.

With Saturday's victory, Golden Tempo earned 20 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The points vaulted him into second place on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard behind FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA winner Ted Noffey who leads with 40 points.

The Lecomte was the first domestic prep race of 2026 for 3-year-olds with Derby qualifying points distributed on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to its top five finishers. Churchill Downs officials use qualifying points to publicize the 1 1/4-mile first leg of the Triple Crown and as a preference system when the race lures more than its capacity field size of 20 starters. Point totals will increase for Derby preps run later this winter and spring.