Welcome to 2026 Triple Crown Prospect Profiles – updated after the first jewel of the Triple Crown from the previous title of Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles – where we’ll take a look each week at a recent winner on the Triple Crown trail.

This week’s profile, of course, is Golden Tempo, the winner by a neck of the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve May 2 at Churchill Downs. His victory made Cherie DeVaux the first woman ever to train a Kentucky Derby winner.

Racing Résumé: I profiled Golden Tempo Jan. 20 after he improved to 2-for-2 with a win in the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds Jan. 17 and concluded: “Given the pedigree, elite connections, and two wins in as many starts, Golden Tempo has the makings of a serious Kentucky Derby candidate, but he will need to run much faster to continue to excel as the competition gets tougher.”

I also mentioned at the time that progress in racehorses is rarely linear, and Golden Tempo followed the Lecomte with somewhat disappointing third-place finishes in both the Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes and the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. It goes to show that a 3-year-old racehorse is still learning the craft while maturing physically and mentally.

One thing Golden Tempo had always shown is the ability to finish fast. In the Louisiana Derby, Golden Tempo blitzed the final furlong in :12.37 and covered his final three-eighths of a mile in :37.19, and that finishing kick was paramount in the Kentucky Derby.

Golden Tempo rallied from last to first and overcame being forced 10 paths-plus wide entering the Derby stretch with a powerful final quarter-mile in :24.52 and a final eighth of a mile in :12.08, both exceptional closing fractions for a 3-year-old in a 1 ¼-mile race.

“I knew my horse was a deep closer, so I don’t have any interest in being in front early,” said winning jockey Jose Ortiz, who has been aboard for all five of Golden Tempo’s races. “You can see the way I broke, when I go to the rail and save ground. So, I did that and I was hoping for a big run late. I was hoping for a fast pace, and I’m glad we had it.”

Golden Tempo owns three wins in five starts and he’s very consistent, having run in the top three in every race to date.

Speed Figures: The on big knock on Golden Tempo has been – and very likely will continue to be – that he’s not as fast as the elite 3-year-olds in terms of speed figures. His career-best Equibase Speed Figure entering the Derby was a 95 and his top Beyer Speed Figure was an 88, both below par for the field. Golden Tempo earned a 100 Equibase Speed Figure for his Derby win and a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. The latter was the lowest winning Beyer number for a Derby winner over the last decade, and only Rich Strike’s 97 winning Equibase Speed Figure in 2022 was slower since 1992. I’ve always felt that deep closers are disadvantaged when it comes to stacking consistent, fast speed figures because they are so dependent upon pace. It’s also why in recent years for Derby analysis, I have focused more and more on how the contenders finish their final three-eighths, quarter-mile, and eighth of a mile. I evaluate turf races using this method along with pace shape. From a finishing perspective, Golden Tempo is actually quite fast.

Running Style: Golden Tempo’s running style has been discussed above, but he’s a deep closer who makes a sustained late rally for the final half-mile to three-eighths of a mile. It’s a running style dependent upon others to ensure a solid pace, which Golden Tempo benefitted from in the Derby. This style also often leads to traffic trouble and wide trips, the latter which he overcame Saturday at Churchill.

Looking ahead to the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets as possible next options for Golden Tempo’s next race, it’s difficult to predict if closers might be compromised. Pimlico definitely favored horses with tactical speed in the Preakness, but Laurel Park will host the race for the first time in 2026 with the new Pimlico under construction. Saratoga Race Course will host the Belmont Stakes for the third year in a row; the two previous editions were won from just off the pace (Dornoch, 2024) and from a stalking position (Sovereignty, 2025).

Pedigree Notes: Golden Tempo’s pedigree features a terrific combination of class and stamina. He is by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, a powerful source of stamina, out of Carrumba, a Grade 3 winner at 1 1/8 miles by 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini. He was bred to be a two-turn star and lived up to that promise under the Twin Spires at Churchill on U.S. racing’s grandest stage.

Preakness-Belmont Stakes Potential: It would take significant racing luck in three straight races for a closer like Golden Tempo to sweep the Triple Crown. He would need a swift (or at least solid) pace in all three classics and to avoid traffic trouble after launching his rally.

I understand most handicappers probably will identify him as a horse to bet against in his next race. But whether his next start is the Preakness or Belmont, I think it would be foolish to bet against him completely. He will be absolutely flying late and passing horses in the stretch, and Golden Tempo should at least be a key horse for any exacta or trifecta ticket. Trainer DeVaux will have this talented 3-year-old ready wherever he winds up next, and he should be charging in the stretch with a legit shot at victory ... if he’s fast enough.