Louisville, Ky. – Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, making Cherie Devaux the first woman to train a winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Golden Tempo – who was at the back of the pack early – made history by winning the 1 1/8-mile race for Devaux at odds of 23-1. Renegade with brother Irad Ortiz Jr. was second, and long shot Ocelli was third.
“I have no words right now,” Devaux said. “I just can’t. That’s it, so happy for Golden Tempo. Jose did an amazing job, an excellent job of getting it there. He was far from it.”
Devaux is the second female trainer to win any Triple Crown race, following Jenna Antonucci with Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont Stakes. Eight years after starting his own stable, he won the Derby on his first occasion.
“I’m glad I can be a representative for all women everywhere that we can do whatever we set our mind to,” Devaux said.
During the week, Devaux went from downplaying what it means to be the first woman to train a Derby winner to realizing that she is a role model for girls who might someday want to follow in her footsteps. She is just the 18th woman to saddle a horse in the Kentucky Derby.
Jose Ortiz showed the horsemanship skills that have made him so successful in recent days to win the Derby for the first time in his 11th try at Churchill Downs. In less than 24 hours she also won the Kentucky Oaks, the top race for 3-year-old fillies.
The Kentucky Derby went ahead with just 18 horses after Great White was delayed by buckling and throwing his jockey. Track veterinarians made the call to scratch the long shot, who entered the field on Wednesday when Silent Tactic was sidelined with a leg injury.
