Golden Tempo Wins 152nd Kentucky Derby; Cherie DeVaux Becomes First Female Winning Trainer

Golden Tempo secured a historic victory in the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The win marks a monumental milestone for the sport as Cherie DeVaux became the first woman in history to train a winner of the Kentucky Derby.\n\nGolden Tempo, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, surged from the back of the pack to take the lead in the stretch, claiming the "Run for the Roses" at 23-1 odds. Renegade, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., finished in second place, while long-shot Ocelli placed third to round out the podium.\n\n## A Historic Milestone for Female Trainers\nDeVaux’s achievement makes her only the second female trainer to win any Triple Crown race, following Jena Antonucci’s 2023 Belmont Stakes victory with Arcangelo. This was DeVaux’s first attempt at the Kentucky Derby, coming just eight years after she established her own stable. She is the 18th woman to saddle a horse in the history of the race.\n\n"I don't even have any words right now," DeVaux said following the victory. "I'm just so, so happy for Golden Tempo. Jose did a masterful job of getting him there. I'm glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere—that we can do anything we set our minds to."\n\n## Jose Ortiz Completes a Rare Double\nFor jockey Jose Ortiz, the victory marked his first Kentucky Derby win in 11 attempts. It capped a dominant 24-hour stretch for the rider, who also won the Kentucky Oaks—the premier race for 3-year-old fillies—on Friday.\n\nThe field was reduced to 18 horses after Great White was a late scratch following an incident where the horse flipped and threw its jockey. Great White had only entered the field earlier in the week after Silent Tactic was withdrawn due to a foot injury.