Golden Tempo surged to victory in the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, making trainer Cherie DeVaux the first woman to win the opening leg of the Triple Crown. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, the 23-1 long shot came from the back of the pack to charge down the stretch at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Renegade, ridden by Jose Ortiz's brother Irad Ortiz Jr, finished second, while long shot Ocelli (70-1) took third. The race was reduced to 18 horses after Great White was scratched for unseating his jockey.
DeVaux, who started her own stable eight years ago, won the Derby in her first attempt. She is only the second female trainer to win a Triple Crown race, following Jena Antonucci's victory with Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont Stakes.
“I don’t even have any words right now,” DeVaux said. “I just can’t. Just so, so happy for Golden Tempo. Jose did a wonderful job, a masterful job of getting him there.” She added: “I’m glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds to.”
Jose Ortiz won his first Kentucky Derby in his 11th attempt, less than 24 hours after winning the Kentucky Oaks. “I want [Irad Ortiz] to win the Derby, of course,” he said. “I know it’s his dream as well. But it happened that way.”
