Horse Racing Legend Curlin Finally Sires Derby Winner

Champion racehorse Curlin waited 22 years to sire a Kentucky Derby winner, and Golden Tempo finally delivered that dream on May 2, surging from behind to claim victory by a neck.

The win was especially sweet after Curlin sired three Derby runners-up over the years. His offspring Exaggerator, Good Magic, and Journalism each came achingly close but fell just short of the roses.

Curlin himself knew what it felt like to nearly win the Derby. As a racehorse, he finished third in the 1.25-mile classic but went on to capture the 2007 Preakness Stakes and later became Horse of the Year twice.

After retiring from racing, Curlin became one of North America's most successful breeding stallions. His first crop of offspring included Palace Malice, who won the Belmont Stakes, giving Curlin a connection to that leg of the Triple Crown early on.

His breeding success justified premium fees, commanding over $200,000 since 2023. He's ranked among the top five general sires six times and led all stallions in grade 1 winners in both 2021 and 2022.

Golden Tempo came from a carefully planned match between Curlin and a Bernardini mare named Carrumba. The cross has proven golden, producing 11 stakes winners from just 43 starters, including grade 1 champions like Clairiere and Paris Lights.

The Ripple Effect

Curlin's influence spread throughout this year's Derby beyond just his son. He's the grandfather of third-place finisher Ocelli through his successful son Connect, and the grandfather on the mother's side of runner-up Renegade.

The victory represents more than one horse's win. It validates decades of careful breeding strategy by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, who co-bred Golden Tempo with an eye toward producing classic race winners.

At 22, Curlin proves that patience and persistence pay off, even for champions.