On Saturday, May 2, a surprisingly late charge and a historic breakthrough defined the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby. A longshot Golden Tempo surged from the back of the field to win the “Run of the Roses” and deliver a landmark victory for trainer Cherie DeVaux, the first woman to ever ride a Derby winner.
Sent off at odds of roughly 23-1, Golden Tempo trailed much of the 18-horse field before unleashing a powerful move around the final turn under jock José Ortiz. The colt edged past favorite Renegade in the stretch, winning by a narrow margin in front of more than 150,000 spectators at Churchill Downs.
Renegade, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., held on for second, while longshot Ocelli finished third to complete the surprise trifecta.
The victory marked one of the biggest upsets in recent Derby history and delivered a $3.1 million payday to the winning ownership group. But race’s most significant moment came in the winner’s circle.
DeVaux, a rising trainer who had never before started a horse in the Derby, broke one of horse racing’s most enduring barriers. In the race’s 152nd year of history, no woman had trained a Derby winner until this weekend.
Her victory follows a gradual progress for women in Thoroughbred racing, including Jena Antonucci’s Belmont Stakes win in 2023, but the Derby had remained elusive until now.
The final results for the 2026 Kentucky Derby:
- Golden Tempo (23-1)
- Renegade (5-1)
- Ocelli (70-1)
- Chief Wallabee (7-1)
- Danon Bourbon (14-1)
With the win, Golden Tempo now leads the chase for the Triple Crown, which continues with the Preakness Stakes later this month. But the 2026 Derby will be remembered for a dramatic finish and for a historic breakthrough that reshaped the sport.
