Cherie DeVaux Takes Her Place in History as the First Woman Trainer to Win the Kentucky Derby
Horse racing has been around for centuries and this weekend one of the most well-known races took place in Louisville, KY. It has been happening since 1875 and this year a new event took place. Cherie DeVaux took her place in history as the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. The horse, Golden Tempo, won the 152nd edition of the Run for the Roses in 2:02.27. Catapulting DeVaux into the sports history books. He was ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz whose brother Irad was also a jockey in the race.
At one point, DeVaux didn’t know what to do next in her career. So, she decided to start her own stable eight years ago. It turned out to be a good decision as it led to her earning the first woman trainer to win the Derby. It was surprising to see Golden Tempo win the race since the odds were 23-1 and wasn’t expected to disrupt the favorites. Golden Tempo is a 3-year-old colt and has raced from 2025 to 2026. It’s possible he could go on to win the 2026 Preakness Stakes on May 16. Next month is the Belmont Stakes and then the Breeders Cup in October. That means DeVaux, Ortiz and Golden Tempo will be busy for the rest of the year.
The Kentucky Derby is hyped as “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” And that was the case with Golden Tempo as was dead last in the field but closed in from the outside. He came from seven lengths behind to overtake co-favorite Renegade who finished second. And Ocelli who finished third in the race. Speaking on the accomplishment DeVaux told NBC post-race:
“I am glad I can be a representative of women everywhere, that we can do anything we set our minds to.”
Cherie DeVaux Takes Her Place in History as the First Woman Trainer to Win the Kentucky Derby
However, it’s not clear if Golden Tempo will participate in the upcoming Preakness. Due to the quick turnaround between races, two of the last four Derby winners have not participated in the second leg of the Triple Crown. “I don’t know yet,” Daisy Phipps Pulito, one of Golden Tempo’s owners told NBC during its broadcast. “We’ll have to see how he comes out of the race.”
In addition, this was the first Derby win for jockey Jose Ortiz, who was 0-for-10 heading into Saturday. Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose’s brother, was riding Renegade and searching for his own first Derby win (0-for-9) but had to settle for second. Therefore, it was a great day for all parties involved. Congratulations to Cherie DeVaux on her history-making victory!
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