Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby; Cherie DeVaux becomes first woman trainer to win

Saturday, May 2, 2026Confirmed

Sports Desk

What we know

Golden Tempo rallied from last in a field of 18 to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby by a neck Saturday at Churchill Downs, making Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Derby winner, AP, Reuters, ESPN and NBC reported. Jose Ortiz rode the 23-1 Curlin colt owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable past morning-line favorite Renegade, ridden by Ortiz's brother Irad Ortiz Jr.; Ocelli finished third.

Golden Tempo covered 1¼ miles in 2:02.27 before a crowd of 150,415 and paid $48.24 to win. DeVaux, in her first Derby start, joined Jena Antonucci (2023 Belmont) as the only women to train a Triple Crown race winner. She said the horse would dictate whether to enter the May 16 Preakness.

What's confirmed

AP/ESPN: Golden Tempo won by a neck at 23-1; DeVaux is the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner (AP, ESPN).
Reuters/NBC: Jose Ortiz rode the winner; brother Irad finished second on Renegade; winning time was 2:02.27 (Reuters, NBC).
AP/Kentucky Derby: Crowd of 150,415; winner's share about $3.1 million for the Curlin colt (AP, KentuckyDerby.com).
ESPN/NBC: DeVaux said Preakness plans depend on how Golden Tempo recovers; "the horse is first" (ESPN, NBC).

What's still developing

Whether Golden Tempo ships to the Preakness Stakes on May 16 or points to the Belmont.
How the rest of the Derby field sorts for the remaining Triple Crown legs.

Sources

AP — Golden Tempo takes Kentucky Derby as Cherie DeVaux becomes 1st woman to train winner link
Reuters — Horse racing: Golden Tempo wins the 152nd Kentucky Derby link
ESPN — Golden Tempo makes DeVaux first woman trainer to win Kentucky Derby link
NBC — Kentucky Derby winner Cherie DeVaux bet on herself and won big link
Kentucky Derby — Golden Tempo gives Cherie DeVaux history-making win link
Courier Journal — Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby for Cherie DeVaux link