Who is Kentucky Derby horse a descendant of? Golden Tempo pedigree
Ryan BlackGolden Tempo, the long shot who won the Kentucky Derby Saturday evening, is the son of Curlin, a Hall of Fame thoroughbred that won the Preakness Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic in 2007 and was a two-time American Horse of the Year winner (2007 and 2008), and Carrumba, his dam.
Golden Tempo was foaled Feb. 7, 2023. He was bred by his owners, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables. Golden Tempo has never been sold at a public auction.
Golden Tempo won the Derby at 23-1 odds.
Along with the 2007 Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic victories, Curlin also won the Arkansas Derby and Jockey Club Gold Cup while placing third in the Derby that year. Curlin won 11 of his 16 career starts, with a win-place-show rate of 94% (11-2-2). He earned more than $10 million, which was the most of any North American-based horse following his final race in October 2008; Curlin now is 16th on that list. His trainer was another Hall of Famer, Steve Asmussen. Curlin was owned by Stonestreet Stables.
Carrumba, Golden Tempo’s dam, had 15 career starts, winning four times. She won a single graded-stakes event: the Grade 3 Top Flight Invitational Handicap at Aqueduct in 2016. Carrumba finished her racing career with a win-place-show percentage of 87 (4-6-3).
Saturday’s result was historic in the 152-year running of the Derby: Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer ever to win the Run for the Roses. The previous-best finish by a female trainer was Shelley Riley’s runner-up showing (with Casual Lies) in 1992.
Golden Tempo’s win was the second Derby triumph for one of Golden Tempo’s owners, Vincent Viola of St. Elias Stable. Viola owned a stake in 2017 champion Always Dreaming.
It was the first victory in the Run for the Roses for co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito (of Phipps Stable) and jockey Jose Ortiz.
Golden Tempo boasts a deep bloodline.
His grandsire (on Carrumba’s side) is Bernardini, who won the 2006 Preakness Stakes. Bernardini was the U.S. champion 3-year-old in 2006.
Golden Tempo claims as ancestors two of the best racehorses of all time: Secretariat (Triple Crown winner in 1973) and Seattle Slew (Triple Crown winner in 1977).
Other notable members of Golden Tempo’s pedigree include Hall of Fame thoroughbreds Native Dancer (the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes champion in 1953 who won 21 of his 22 career starts), Nashua (winner of the Preakness and Belmont in 1955), Northern Dancer (the Derby and Preakness Stakes champion in 1964), Spectacular Bid (the Derby and Preakness victor in 1979) and A.P. Indy (the 1992 Horse of the Year). Golden Tempo’s family tree also features Sir Ivor (British horse racing royalty), Raise A Native (the Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in 1963), Nodouble (the Champion Older Horse in both 1969 and 1970), Deputy Minister (the Eclipse Award winner for Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in 1981) and Bates Motel (the Eclipse Award recipient for Champion Older Horse in 1983).
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