Golden Tempo claimed Saturday’s Kentucky Derby and made history, as trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to ever prep the winner of America’s most famous horse race.
“I don’t have any words right now,” DeVaux said after the victory. “I’m just so, so happy for Golden Tempo. (Jockey) Jose (Ortiz) did a wonderful job, a masterful job at getting him there. He’s was so far out of it, and he has had so much faith in this horse.”
Golden Tempo entered with 23-1 odds. Renegade (5-1) and Ocelli (70-1) took second and third, respectively.
Golden Tempo, the son of two-time horse of the year Curlin, had run well during show efforts in the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes but wasn’t considered a serious contender in the Run of the Roses.
DeVaux would not commit Golden Tempo to race in May 16th’s Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.
Ortiz, with tears streaming down his face, called Saturday’s result a “dream come true.”
“This is a biggest race in the world,” he said. “For me, I’m just glad I get to ride it almost every year. But to get to win, it’s just special. I have my mom and dad here today. It’s very special.”
Before DeVaux’s big win, the closest a female trainer had come to the winner’s circle came in 1992 with the place showing of Casual Lies, prepped by Shelley Riley.
“I’m glad I can be representative of women everywhere,” DeVaux said in a postrace interview on the broadcast. “We can do anything we set our minds to.”
With the Kentucky Derby in her pocket, could Cherie DeVaux now try to be the first woman to win the Triple Crown? She didn’t commit to running Golden Tempo in the Preakness on May 16, saying she would see how the horse responded before making a decision.
Ultimately, the Kentucky Derby was about DeVaux cementing her own legacy in the sport.
“Being a woman or my gender has never really crossed my mind in this,” DeVaux said in her victory press conference. “The thing that really has become apparent to me is not everyone has the same constitution I have mentally. It really is an honor to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to.
“You can dream big and you can pivot, you can come from one place and make yourself a part of history.”
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