Golden Tempo wins 2026 Kentucky Derby: Cherie DeVaux makes horse racing history

History was made Saturday at Churchill Downs as Golden Tempo surged from last place to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby, making Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to win the “Run for the Roses.”

With the win, DeVaux became the first woman to saddle a Derby winner. She joins Jena Antonucci as the only women to train a Triple Crown race winner. 

Advertisement

Golden Tempo entered the race as a 23-1 longshot. Sired by the legendary Curlin, the colt had previously shown promise with a win in the Lecomte Stakes and third place finishes at the Fair Grounds.

Renegade, the morning line favorite at 4-1 also sought to make history by becoming the first horse to win out of the inside gate in 40 years. At the midpoint of the race, Renegade was trailing significantly, sitting 15 lengths behind the leaders.

The closing stretch turned into a family battle between jockey brothers, with Irad Ortiz facing off against Jose Ortiz.

The event was the coldest Kentucky Derby in 37 years, dating back to 1989. The start was delayed after the horse Great White threw his jockey and rolled over while approaching the gate. 

Due to the incident, Great White was scratched at the last minute, forcing officials to completely unload and reload the starting gate. Saturday’s race served as the opening leg of the prestigious Triple Crown. 

The second leg, the Preakness Stakes, is scheduled for Saturday, May 16. In a major departure from tradition, the Preakness will be held at Laurel Park instead of Baltimore’s Pimlico Racecourse, which is currently undergoing a $400 million renovation.