When Cherie DeVaux was a 22-year old “bright eyed, bushy-tailed exercise rider” little did she think she was going to be a trainer for the winning horse in the Kentucky Derby. But the Sarasota Springs, NY native became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby as her horse, Golden Tempo ridden by Jose Ortiz, defeated prerace favorite, Renegade, last night at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Watch as Cherie and her family and owner watch the final run.
AP Photo/Abbie Parr
Tempo’s historic win was close, as the horse narrowly defeated Renegade by a neck. Ocelli, in their maiden run as an entry off the also-eligible list finished almost a length behind. The payouts are listed below.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Kentucky Derby winners and payouts 2026
1st: 19 Golden Tempo $48.24 $19.14 $11.90
2nd: 1 Renegade $7.14 $5.45
3rd: 22 Ocelli $36.34
$2.00 Exacta 19-1 $278.86
$0.50 Trifecta 19-1-22 $5625.39
$1.00 Superfecta 19-1-22-12 $94,489.95
$1.00 Superhighfive Carryover $848,360.43
$1.00 Daily Double 6-19 $94.83
Pre Race Trouble
Prior to the start of the race, Great White, a behemoth horse at 1300 pounds and over 17 hands tall, was spooked by something and threw his rider, Alex Achard, off and fell to the track. He was scratched by race doctors. A few of the horses were already in the starting gate and needed to be backed out. Winning jockey, Jose Ortiz, said later: “I didn’t want to be loaded [after the incident]. I think [my] horse is ready. When you put him in he knows he’s going forward.”
When the race began, Renegade was bumped and tossed towards the rail as Six Speed and Wonder Dean raced out to the lead. Golden Tempo stayed last for much of the race. But Ortiz was keeping one horse in his sights, Renegade, ridden by his older brother Irad. “It was one of my targets to follow.”
A defining race maneuver
It wasn’t until late in the homestretch that race announcer, Larry Collmus, finally shouted that Renegade and Golden Tempo had raced to the front. At the final furlong, Golden Tempo was behind two horses (one being Renegade) which blocked his move to the outside. But strangely both horses veered toward the inside and Ortiz had his opening. Flying around, Tempo raced up towards Renegade, where they battled each other towards the finish. Ocelli, the last horse entered, had the lead as the two brothers sprinted to the finish line.
What a race!
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Irad, perhaps the best jockey in the world right now, gave his younger brother a high five after the race. “I felt we were moving along very nice,” Jose mentioned in the post race. Jose felt he could stay outside and his horse would have enough. Jose had an incredible two days. He was the rider who won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday night with the mount, Always a Runner.
“He’s a dead closer,” trainer DeVaux remarked about her horse in the post race press conference. “[T]he Louisiana Derby really solidified that he was getting there.” Replying to why she let up on his training early in the week and if it concerned her during the race she had the line of the presser:
“So you know it’s just one of those things that you have to have faith in the process, faith in the horse, and faith in Jose. A lot of faith. A lot of faith. Gotta have faith. There’s a song back there!”
Golden Tempo grabs the $3.1 million prize for the win. The Derby was DeVaux’s 300 win as a trainer. And the 19th post position has another winner. The last win from the 19th spot was in 2012 with I’ll Have Another.
When asked about a Preakness entry, the team talked about waiting to see how the horse felt Sunday and over the next few days. When questioned about the team (owners, trainer, jockey) Cherie shared this:
“We are not here for ourselves or our egos. We are here for the horse.”
Congratulations, Cherie and Jose! You gave the country a wonderful 2 minute and 2 second ride in confidence, loyalty and faith! Sometimes great things happen to great people. And great horses!
Post Race Press conference
The Full Race
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