Golden Tempo’s Late Surge Claims Kentucky Derby, Cherie DeVaux Makes History as First Female Winning Trainer

Golden Tempo takes Kentucky Derby; Cherie DeVaux 1st woman to train winner – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)

Churchill Downs, Louisville — Golden Tempo unleashed a powerful rally from the rear of the field to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, handing trainer Cherie DeVaux a landmark victory as the first woman to train a winner in the Triple Crown opener.[1][2] Jockey Jose Ortiz guided the 23-1 longshot over the 1¼-mile distance in 2:02.27, nipping the favorite Renegade at the wire before a crowd exceeding 100,000. The upset delivered substantial payouts and amplified excitement at Las Vegas sportsbooks, where the Derby consistently generates some of the year’s largest wagering handles.

The Race Unfolds in Dramatic Fashion

The 152nd running featured 18 starters after several high-profile scratches, including Great White, which flipped moments before the gate opened, and others like The Puma, Fulleffort, Silent Tactic, and Right to Party.[1][3] Golden Tempo settled near the back early, conserving energy as the pace unfolded. Ortiz angled the colt wide around the final turn and drove him down the stretch, passing Renegade in the final strides.

Renegade, ridden by Irad Ortiz from post one, led much of the way before fading slightly. Ocelli surged to third at 75-1 odds, while Chief Wallabee and Danon Bourbon rounded out the top five. The finish order highlighted the race’s unpredictability, with no dominant favorite emerging from a deep field.[3]

• 1st: Golden Tempo (post 19, 23-1)
• 2nd: Renegade (post 1, 6-1)
• 3rd: Ocelli (post 22, 75-1)
• 4th: Chief Wallabee (post 12, 7-1)
• 5th: Danon Bourbon (post 7, 14-1)

Cherie DeVaux’s Path to a Historic Breakthrough

Cherie DeVaux, a Saratoga Springs native with roots in Standardbred racing, built her career methodically before this triumph. She worked six years under trainer Chuck Simon, then eight years as an assistant to Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, earning her trainer’s license in 2018. Her first winner came in March 2019, followed by major successes including the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile with More Than Looks, Grade 1 winner Vahva, and the 2025 Eclipse Award-winning turf mare She Feels Pretty.[3][2]

DeVaux entered the Derby for the first time with Golden Tempo and downplayed gender barriers in post-race remarks. “Being a woman or my gender has never really crossed my mind in this journey of mine,” she said. “I’m glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds to.”[1] She credited her seven brothers for instilling resilience and noted the colt’s minor cracked heels posed no issue. DeVaux joked about past queries on being a potential “one and done” in the spotlight, adding, “I’m just glad I don’t have to answer that question anymore.”

Growing up around horses shifted her from pre-med studies to the racetrack, where she honed skills as a gallop girl and assistant. This Derby win marked her as only the second woman to train a Triple Crown victor, following Jena Antonucci’s 2023 Belmont Stakes success with Arcangelo. Stakeholders like owners Phipps Stable’s Daisy Phipps Pulito and St. Elias Stable’s Vincent Viola celebrated a homebred colt’s elevation to champion status.[2]

Golden Tempo Proves His Mettle

The bay colt by Curlin out of Carrumba arrived with solid but unflashy form. He broke his maiden at Fair Grounds in December 2025 by 1½ lengths, then captured the Lecomte Stakes in January 2026 with a last-to-first move. Third-place finishes in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby followed, earning $333,000 entering the race.[2]

Trained with blinkers to sharpen focus after early laziness, Golden Tempo rewarded DeVaux’s patience. Ortiz, aboard for every start, maintained continuity. The owners’ partnership yielded this pinnacle moment in a career still ascending.

Jose Ortiz Rides to Personal Glory

Jose Ortiz secured his first Derby victory on his 11th attempt, completing a Oaks-Derby double after winning Friday aboard Always a Runner. Family watched from the stands as he fulfilled a lifelong ambition. “To get to win it, it’s just special,” Ortiz said. “I just wish my grandpa was here, but I know he’s looking from heaven. Just very happy that I get my goal, my life dream goal achieved.”[1]

The win amplified payouts for sharp bettors nationwide, including those packing Las Vegas books like Circa and Westgate, where Derby day fuels record volumes amid the city’s betting heritage.

DeVaux’s milestone opens doors for women in racing while Golden Tempo eyes the Preakness Stakes. For bettors and fans, the colt’s rally underscored the Derby’s enduring allure: chaos, heart, and history intertwined.