Golden Tempo Wins 2026 Kentucky Derby, Making Cherie DeVaux First Female Trainer Victor

Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, making Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to achieve the victory in the race's history. The horse, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, rallied from last place in a field of 18 to overtake favorite Renegade just before the finish line, completing the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:02.27.

Multiple sources reported Golden Tempo's post-time odds at 23-1, with payouts of $48.24 to win, $19.14 to place, and $11.90 to show.

DeVaux, who started her own stable eight years ago, became the second woman to train a Triple Crown race winner, following Jena Antonucci's victory with Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont Stakes. DeVaux entered the Derby in her first attempt and highlighted her role as a representative for women in the sport.

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

Nearly a dozen members of DeVaux's family traveled 14 hours from New York to Louisville to attend the race, avoiding any talk of winning due to superstition, according to her sister Adrianne DeVaux.

The field was reduced to 18 horses after late scratches, including The Puma due to a swollen leg from a skin infection and Great White after flipping and throwing its jockey. , finished second with 5-1 odds, paying $7.14 to place and $5.46 to show. Ocelli, a long shot that entered the field on Thursday after Fulleffort was ruled out, placed third and paid $36.34 to show.

Other notable contenders included Commandment and Further Ado at 6-1 odds, Chief Wallabee at 8-1, and So Happy at 15-1.

Ortiz secured his first Kentucky Derby win in his 11th attempt, following his victory in the Kentucky Oaks the previous day. The win marked Ortiz's third career Triple Crown victory overall.

“I get to ride it almost every year, but to get to win it, it’s just special.”

DeVaux stated that any decision on entering Golden Tempo in the Preakness Stakes on May 16 would depend on the horse's condition in the coming days.

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The last Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018. Prior to DeVaux, only 17 other women had owned horses that ran in the Derby, and she is the 18th woman to saddle a horse in the race.

Golden Tempo qualified for the Derby through points from prior races, entering as a 30-1 morning-line longshot before odds shifted to 23-1 at post time. m. ET.