Golden Tempo Wins 152nd Kentucky Derby, Cherie DeVaux Becomes First Female Trainer to Claim Victory

Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, marking a historic achievement for trainer Cherie DeVaux. The horse, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, entered the race with 23-1 odds and overtook the field in a dramatic finish, defeating 17 other contenders in the 1 1/4-mile event.

DeVaux became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, surpassing previous milestones such as Shelley Riley's second-place finish with Casual Lies in 1992.

Tempo finished first, with Renegade in second at 5-1 odds and Ocelli in third at 70-1 odds. A $2 bet on Golden Tempo to win paid $48.24, while a $2 exacta bet on Golden Tempo and Renegade returned $278.86. A $1 trifecta bet on the top three yielded $11,250.78.

The field was reduced to 18 horses after scratches, including a late scratch of Great White just before the start when the horse bucked and flipped, tossing jockey Alex Achard.

Ortiz secured his first Kentucky Derby win, describing it as a dream come true and noting the presence of his family at the event. Ortiz also won the Kentucky Oaks the previous day aboard Always a Runner, achieving a rare double victory in the two major races at Churchill Downs. He outdueled his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Renegade to second place.

“I don’t have any words right now. I’m just so, so happy for Golden Tempo. Jose did a wonderful job, a masterful job at getting him there.”

Renegade, the morning-line favorite at 4-1 odds, started from the No. 1 post position, which has not produced a winner since 1986. Other notable horses included Commandment and Further Ado, both at 6-1 odds, with Commandment ridden by Luis Saez and Further Ado by John Velazquez.

The Kentucky Derby is the opening leg of the Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes on May 16, 2026, in Baltimore, and the Belmont Stakes in New York. The last Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018, trained by Bob Baffert, who had two entries this year: Potente at 20-1 odds and Litmus Test at 30-1 odds.

DeVaux did not commit to entering Golden Tempo in the Preakness, stating she would assess the horse's condition first.

“I’m glad I can be representative of women everywhere. We can do anything we set our minds to.”

Golden Tempo, sired by two-time horse of the year Curlin, had prior showings in the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes but was not seen as a top contender. The race drew 150,415 attendees, below the record of 170,513 set in 2015.

The purse for the 2026 Derby was $5 million, with $3.1 million for first place, $1 million for second, $500,000 for third, $250,000 for fourth, and $150,000 for fifth. Horses qualified through points from preparatory races dating back to September 2025, such as the Arkansas Derby won by Renegade and the Florida Derby won by Commandment.

Scratches included The Puma, Great White, Fulleffort, Right to Party, and Silent Tactic, allowing Ocelli and Robusta to enter the field. Chief Wallabee, at 8-1 odds, was trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, the duo behind last year's Derby winner Sovereignty.

So Happy, at 15-1 odds, won the Santa Anita Derby and was ridden by Mike Smith, who has 28 Derby mounts, the most in history. Emerging Market, also at 15-1, won the Louisiana Derby, with Flavien Prat aboard, seeking his second Derby win after 2019.

The race started at approximately 6:57 p.m.

ET, the 12th race of the day at Churchill Downs. Attendees featured elaborate hats and ensembles, continuing the event's traditions. Golden Tempo's victory added to Ortiz's Triple Crown tally, marking his third overall, including prior Belmont wins.