How Cherie DeVaux Made History By Winning the 2026 Kentucky Derby With Golden Tempo

The Kentucky Derby is always an incredible race, but few have captured the public quite like the 2026 renewal when Golden Tempo delivered a stunning last-to-first rally to win at Churchill Downs on May 3, 2026.

Not only was the ride delivered an unbelievable feat of jockeying, but it also made trainer Cherie DeVaux the first woman in the race's 152-year history to saddle a Derby winner.

Jockey Jose Ortiz secured his first Kentucky Derby triumph in his 11th attempt, edging out his brother Irad Ortiz Jr aboard Renegade by a neck in a thrilling finish.

Millions of us have watched the video of DeVaux cheering Jose from the rail, her family's overwhelming emotion erupting the moment Golden Tempo crossed the wire.

It is an incredible achievement that has catapulted DeVaux, Ortiz, and Golden Tempo into the history books, proving once again that anything can happen in the Kentucky Derby.

The Race

Going off on odds of 23/1, Golden Tempo was genuinely not really in the conversation. That was dominated by Renegade and Commandment, with many punting on Further Ado or maybe The Puma if they fancied a bit of an outsider with more value across the online racebook options for bettors.

To be fair, from the get-go, it wasn’t an easy ride for Ortiz, who broke from post 19 and immediately found himself compromised, getting bumped and pinched back at the start before settling at the rear of the 18-horse field.

Six Speed set comfortable early fractions for the quarter-mile, half-mile, and clocked 1:10.90 for three-quarters, keeping closers in contention.

With half a mile remaining, Golden Tempo trailed by approximately 15 lengths as Danon Bourbon took command heading into the final turn.

Jose Ortiz patiently saved ground along the rail through the early stages before beginning to weave through traffic around the far turn.

Still facing 11 horses at the top of the stretch, Golden Tempo swung seven to ten wide and unleashed a blistering rally from the outside. The colt tucked in behind Renegade before charging past the field in the closing stages, with the duo battling furiously inside the final furlong before Golden Tempo prevailed by a neck in a final time of 2:02.27.

Ocelli briefly took the lead near the sixteenth pole but was outkicked late to finish third, while Chief Wallabee and Danon Bourbon rounded out the top five.

Historic Achievement for Cherie DeVaux

Cherie DeVaux's victory represented a milestone moment in thoroughbred racing history. The Saratoga Springs, New York native spent over a decade as an assistant trainer to Chuck Simon and Chad Brown before launching her own stable in 2018 with just eight horses.

After winning her first race on her 29th start, DeVaux steadily built her operation, winning the 2024 Breeders' Cup Mile with More Than Looks before achieving the ultimate triumph. Incidentally, Ortiz was also riding for DeVaux that day when he came from the back to win.

“I began my journey here 22 years ago as an eager exercise rider, and I never thought I would find myself in this position today,” DeVaux said after the victory.

Her achievement is made even more staggering because it came from her first Derby entry since establishing her independent stable eight years ago.

Her Kentucky Derby win makes her the first woman trainer to win both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby in the same year and just the second woman trainer to win any Triple Crown race, following Jena Antonucci's 2023 Belmont Stakes triumph with Arcangelo.

Jose Ortiz's Breakthrough

For Jose Ortiz, the victory marked the culmination of years of Derby disappointment. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican jockey had previously competed in 10 Kentucky Derbies, finishing in the top five four times but never reaching the winner's circle.

His previous Triple Crown victories included the 2017 Belmont Stakes aboard Tapwrit and the 2022 Preakness Stakes on Early Voting.

The 2026 Derby became a family affair as Jose battled his older brother Irad Ortiz Jr down the stretch, with Irad guiding the 5-1 co-favorite Renegade.

Renegade had also been bumped hard at the start and settled well back before mounting his own late challenge, but could not hold off Golden Tempo's powerful surge.

Jose's patient ride and precision timing proved decisive as he positioned Golden Tempo off the early pace before delivering the winning move in the closing stages.

Let’s Talk Money and Future

Golden Tempo's victory earned connections $3.1 million of the $5 million purse, and the victory capped a remarkable weekend double for Ortiz, who won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday with Always a Runner, becoming only the ninth jockey to complete both races in the same year.

Going off at morning line odds of 23/1, he also handsomely repaid fans who had faith in his abilities, reflecting his status as one of the longest-priced winners in recent Derby history.

Following the Derby triumph, connections announced that Golden Tempo would skip the Preakness Stakes to allow additional recovery time before targeting the Belmont Stakes, which is scheduled to take place on June 6, 2026, at Saratoga.

That decision mirrored the strategy employed by 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, who bypassed the Preakness before winning the Belmont to become the first horse to accomplish that specific sequence.

While that means the Triple Crown is off the table, DeVaux indicated the decision would ultimately depend on how Golden Tempo performed in his first training sessions back, with Wednesday marking his return to the track.

The 152nd Kentucky Derby will be remembered as a watershed moment in racing history, combining a dramatic stretch drive with breakthrough achievements for both trainer and jockey.

DeVaux's presence in the winner's circle shattered a barrier that had stood since the race's inception in 1875, while the Ortiz brothers' duel added a compelling family narrative to an already historic afternoon.