The Kentucky Derby, a race steeped in enough tradition to make a dusty antique feel modern, just got a jolt. On Saturday, a horse named Golden Tempo — a 23-1 long shot, because who doesn't love an underdog with great timing? — thundered to victory. And with it, trainer Cherie DeVaux galloped straight into the history books as the first woman to train a Derby winner.
Let that satisfying number sink in: first woman ever. DeVaux, who only started her own stable eight years ago, managed this feat on her very first Derby attempt. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for anyone who's ever tried something new and, well, not immediately won the Kentucky Derby.
Jockey Jose Ortiz, who clearly had a rather good weekend, piloted Golden Tempo from far behind, charging down the stretch in what DeVaux called a "masterful job." Renegade and Ocelli (another long shot, because why not?) rounded out the top three. All while DeVaux was, understandably, a bit speechless. "I don't even have any words right now," she confessed, which is probably the most relatable thing anyone has ever said after winning a major sporting event.
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Start Your News DetoxShe's only the second female trainer to snag any Triple Crown race, following Jena Antonucci's 2023 Belmont Stakes win. "I'm glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds do," DeVaux noted. A statement that feels less like a platitude and more like an understatement when you've just broken a 149-year-old barrier. She was only the 18th woman to even saddle a horse in the Derby field. The odds, it seems, were stacked in more ways than one.
Meanwhile, Jose Ortiz was having a Derby weekend for the ages. Not only did he finally win the Derby on his eleventh try, but he'd also won the Kentucky Oaks just 24 hours prior. Because apparently, when you're on a roll, you're on a roll.
The race itself had a bit of drama before the gates even opened, with one horse, Great White, getting scratched after flipping and throwing its jockey. The veterinarians, in their infinite wisdom, decided a long shot that throws its rider before the race probably isn't having its best day. A wise call, ensuring the only drama was on the track, not in the paddock.
So, next time someone says history isn't being made every day, remind them about Cherie DeVaux. And maybe that 23-1 long shot.
