Golden Tempo Pulls Off Stunning 23-1 Upset at 2026 Kentucky Derby

Golden Tempo, a 23-1 long shot ridden by Jose Ortiz, charged from the back of the pack to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby on Saturday - and made his trainer Cherie DeVaux the first woman ever to saddle the winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown. The 1 1/8-mile race at Churchill Downs ended with Renegade in second place, ridden by Jose Ortiz’s brother Irad Ortiz Jr., and long shot Ocelli in third.

The win marked one of the most surprising finishes in recent Derby history and a historic moment for women in horse racing.

Why It Matters

DeVaux’s victory is the second time a woman has trained a Triple Crown race winner - Jena Antonucci was the first, with Arcangelo at the 2023 Belmont Stakes. But the Kentucky Derby is the most-watched race of the Triple Crown and one of the most prominent sporting events in the United States, making DeVaux’s win a landmark moment in a sport that has historically been dominated by male trainers. She is just the 18th woman to saddle a horse in the Kentucky Derby, and she won it on her first attempt, eight years after starting her own stable.

The Race

Golden Tempo sat at the back of the pack early before Ortiz piloted him through traffic and down the stretch to overtake the leaders. The win came a little under 24 hours after Ortiz also won the Kentucky Oaks - the top race for 3-year-old fillies - making for a dominant weekend for the jockey at Churchill Downs.

It was Ortiz’s first Kentucky Derby victory in 11 attempts.

The race went on with just 18 horses after Great White was a late scratch for flipping and throwing his jockey. Track veterinarians made the call to scratch the long shot, who had gotten into the field Wednesday after Silent Tactic was ruled out for a foot injury.

DeVaux Reacts

DeVaux, visibly emotional after the race, said she struggled to find words for the moment.

“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.”

In the days leading up to the race, DeVaux had shifted from downplaying the potential significance of becoming the first woman to train a Derby winner to acknowledging she would be a role model for girls considering careers in the sport.

“I’m glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds to,” DeVaux said after the win.

What Happens Next

Attention now turns to the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Golden Tempo’s connections will need to decide whether to enter the colt in pursuit of a Triple Crown bid - a feat last accomplished by Justify in 2018.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.

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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 5:13 PM.