Golden Tempo stormed from the back of the pack to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, marking a historic milestone for trainer Cherie DeVaux, who became the first woman to train a Derby winner. Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, Golden Tempo overcame 23-1 odds to defeat Renegade by a neck, with Ocelli finishing third. The victory came after a dramatic pre-race incident where Great White was scratched after throwing his jockey during loading into the starting gate.
DeVaux, emotional in her post-race interview, emphasized the significance of her achievement for women in sports. "I'm glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere. We can do anything we set our minds to," she said. Ortiz, who also won the Kentucky Oaks the day before, celebrated his first Derby victory in his 11th attempt, outdueling his brother Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Renegade.
The race, which drew a crowd of 150,415, featured a competitive field reduced to 18 horses after Great White's scratch. Golden Tempo's victory paid $48.24 for a $2 bet and completed the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:02.27. The win solidifies DeVaux's place in horse racing history as only the second female trainer to win a Triple Crown race, following Jena Antonucci's 2023 Belmont Stakes victory.
DeVaux, who started her own stable eight years ago, downplayed the significance of her potential historic win earlier in the week but later embraced her role as a role model for young girls aspiring to enter the male-dominated sport. The Kentucky Derby, with a total purse of $5 million, is the first leg of the Triple Crown, which has not been won since Justify in 2018.