Kentucky Derby 2026 winner: Golden Tempo races to historic win for trainer
Golden Tempo #19, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, crosses the finish line to win the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 02, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Golden Tempo came charging from the back of the field at Churchill Downs and took the lead when it counted to win the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.
The colt’s come-from-behind victory at the horse racing’s most celebrated event was a historic win for Cherie DeVaux, who became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner.
Cherie DeVaux trainer of Golden Tempo #19 celebrates after becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby during the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 02, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Get
Big picture view:
Golden Tempo went into the race facing 23-1 odds and was at the back of the pack early. After winding through the field, the horse took the lead late. The victory gave jockey Jose Ortiz, who won the Kentucky Oaks less than a day earlier, his first Derby win in 11 tries.
The race became a real-life sibling rivalry toward the end as Ortiz edged out his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., who was riding one of the early favorites, Renegade. Long shot Ocelli claimed third-place.
"I get to ride it almost every year, but to get to win it, it’s just special," Ortiz said. "I just wish my grandpa was here, but I know he’s looking from heaven. Just very happy that I get my goal, my life dream goal achieved."
1st woman to train a winner
Off the track, this race was trainer Cherie DeVaux’s first opportunity to have a horse run in the Derby after starting her stable eight years ago. She was the 18th woman to saddle a horse in the race.
Her win also made her just the second woman to win any of the Triple Crown races, following Jena Antonucci who won the 2023 Belmont Stakes with Arcangelo.
Golden Tempo runs on the track during the morning training for the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on April 30, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
What they're saying:
"I don’t even have any words right now," DeVaux said. "I just can't. Just so, so, so happy for Golden Tempo. Jose did a wonderful job, a masterful job of getting him there. He was so far out of it."
Over the course of the week, DeVaux came to acknowledge what a win would mean. As the race approached, she went from downplaying what it would mean to be the first woman to train a Derby winner to realizing that achievement would make her a role model for girls looking to follow her.
"I’m glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds do," DeVaux said.
What's next:
The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, will take place in just two weeks, on May 16, in Maryland.
The Belmont Stakes will happen just over a month from now, on June 6, at Saratoga Race Course, in New York.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from Kentucky Derby’s social media, NBC and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.