By Alan Carasso
Making up for lost 'time' after racing at the tail of the field for the opening half of a six-furlong Fair Grounds maiden Saturday afternoon, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Golden Tempo (c, 2, Curlin–Carrumba, by Bernardini) cornered wide into the long straight under a full head of steam and kept that powerful rally up all the way through the line to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard.
Pinched back right out of the gates, the well-backed 14-5 chance was well behind early and Jose Ortiz was content to take his medicine, allowing Golden Tempo to find his footing at the tail of the field.
Coronado (Nyquist), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling, was also off to a slow start as the 9-5 chalk, raced three deep and was first to make a move, coming with a three-wide bid to poke his head three furlongs from home. Not long after, the rail-drawn firster Fancy Fairlane (McKinzie, 7-1) popped off the rail and into the four path and he looked like he was going to run away from them, as he put the chalk to the sword in upper stretch. But, switched out widest of all, Golden Tempo kicked in strongly and bridged the better part of a five-length deficit in the final furlong to win by a widening margin while covering his final quarter-mile in a slick :23.57 according to DRF Formulator.
The winner's dam was raced by the Phippses to a victory in the GIII Top Flight Handicap and was third to Cavorting (Bernardini) in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes in 2016. Placed three times at the graded level at five in 2017, Carrumba concluded her career with a mark of 4-6-3 from 15 starts.
Golden Tempo's third dam was Dancinginmydreams, a full-sister to champion Heavenly Prize and Oh What A Windfall, and runner-up in the GI Matron Stakes in 2000. Her four winners from seven to race included GI Manhattan Handicap hero Dancing Forever (Rahy).
The cross of Curlin over the late Bernardini is now responsible for 25 winners from 40 starters (62.5%), of those 10 stakes winners, including Grade I winners Clairiere and Paris Lights and other graded scorers Cezanne, Cornishman and fellow 'Rising Star' Spice Is Nice.
Carrumba is also the dam of a yearling colt by Nyquist and a weanling filly by Liam's Map. She was barren to Good Magic for 2026.
3rd-Fair Grounds, $55,000, Msw, 12-20, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.66, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
GOLDEN TEMPO, c, 2, by Curlin
1st Dam: Carrumba (GSW & GISP, $621,500), by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Castanet, by El Prado (Ire)
3rd Dam: Dancinginmydreams, by Seeking the Gold
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O/B-Phipps Stable & St Elias Stables LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux.
GOLDEN TEMPO ($7.60) and @jose93_ortiz fire in the final sixteenth to win on debut at @fairgroundsnola. This 2YO son of Curlin is trained by @reredevaux and owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable.
💵 Bet the Fair Grounds with @FanDuel Racing.https://t.co/Hyo6FY9uBw pic.twitter.com/NBZCkYYyKK
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) December 20, 2025
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