Golden Tempo Wins 152nd Kentucky Derby in Photo Finish, Guided by Jockey José Ortiz

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Golden Tempo surged from the back of the pack to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby by a neck on May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs, handing trainer Cherie DeVaux her first victory in the race and making her the first woman to train a Derby winner in its 152-year history.

Jockey José Ortiz guided the 23-1 longshot through traffic on a brisk day in Louisville, threading an outside path after a slow start that left the horse trailing the 18-horse field. Renegade, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

And the 5-1 co-favorite, finished second, while 70-1 longshot Ocelli took third. DeVaux, 44 years old and based in Kentucky, burst into tears of joy in the winner's circle and celebrated with her family after the improbable triumph. She became just the second woman to train a Triple Crown race winner, following Jena Antonucci's success with the 2023 Belmont Stakes.

DeVaux was the 18th woman to saddle a horse in the Derby, a milestone she reflected on days earlier upon seeing a young girl on the backstretch. "It really is an honour to be able to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to," DeVaux said. "You can dream big, and you can pivot.

The trainer, originally from Saratoga Springs, New York, credited her husband with urging her to pursue training in 2017 when she faced a career crossroads, and she grew up with seven brothers and two sisters in a family with a history in horse racing.

DeVaux started her career 22 years ago as an exercise rider at Churchill Downs and obtained her training license in 2018 after taking a break from assistant roles to avoid burnout. She launched her own stable eight years before the 2026 Derby and earned her first win as a trainer in 2019 on her 29th start.

As of May 2026, she had amassed more than 300 victories, including 21 in 2026 prior to the Derby. "I didn’t believe," DeVaux said of her path. "I started my career here 22 years ago as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed exercise rider.

And I would not believe that I would be sitting up here today. " She added, "I’m glad I can be representative of women everywhere," emphasizing that women can achieve anything they set their minds to. Ortiz, who won the Derby for the first time in his 11th attempt, had triumphed in the Kentucky Oaks less than 24 hours earlier on May 1, 2026, becoming the ninth jockey to claim both races in the same year.

"I don't even have any words right now," DeVaux said immediately after the win. "I just cant. Just so, so so happy for Golden Tempo. Jose did a wonderful job, a masterful job of getting him there. " The race proceeded with 18 horses after two scratches: Great White was pulled by track veterinarians on Wednesday before the event after flipping and throwing its jockey, while Silent Tactic was ruled out due to a foot injury.

The Kentucky Derby, the opening leg of the Triple Crown, covers 1 1/8 miles and drew a crowd of 150,415 to Churchill Downs. 6 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. The Preakness Stakes, the next Triple Crown race, is set for May 16, 2026, followed by the Belmont Stakes on June 6, 2026.