Golden Tempo times Kentucky Derby shocker
Outside rally makes DeVaux first woman trainer to win Derby
Press Release
May 3, 2026
Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Golden Tempo rallied from far back to pass Renegade in the final yards to win by a neck in the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (GI) presented by Woodford Reserve for 3-year-olds on a brisk Saturday at Churchill Downs before a crowd of 150,415 and make Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Golden Tempo completed the mile and a quarter on a fast main track in 2:02.27 and made Ortiz the ninth rider to sweep the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby in the same year. Brian Hernandez Jr. was the most recent rider to do that in 2024 with Thorpedo Anna and Mystik Dan.
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“He’s a dead closer and the Louisiana Derby really solidified he was getting there from the eighth pole home,” said winning trainer Cherie DeVaux.. “If he had extra ground he was going to make it. We had to have faith in the process, faith in the horse, faith in Jose (Ortiz). That was an incredible experience. I’m so proud of this horse.”
Six Speed set a blistering pace of :22.68 and :46.44 while being hounded by So Happy and Danon Bourbon while Golden Tempo raced far back in last place. The top three remained unchanged through six furlongs in 1:10.90 and Golden Tempo was still last but starting to gather momentum.
On the far turn, Ortiz began to thread his way through horses as was second choice Renegade who also was far back early. At the top of the stretch, Golden Tempo had only five horses beaten.
Up front, Danon Bourbon had put his head in front and by the eighth pole had surged to a 2-length lead. But the closers were coming with Ocelli, the longest shot in the race at 70-1, putting his head in front at the sixteenth pole.
Renegade hit the front 50 yards from the wire only to have Golden Tempo rocket by in the shadow of the wire to claim the roses.
“We always knew this horse had a lot of ability. You could see early in his career we tried things because he’s a lazy horse,” Ortiz said. “I knew always Golden Tempo would be my Derby mount. This is an incredible experience. I just won the Kentucky Derby.”
The victory was worth $3.1 million for the Kentucky-bred son of Curlin out of the Bernardini mare Carrumba. Now a two-time graded stakes winner with a record of 5-3-0-2, Golden Tempo increased his earnings to $3,433,000.
Golden Tempo returned $48.24, $19.14, $11.90. Renegade, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. returned $7.14 and $5.46 with Ocelli paying $36.34 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
Following in order were Chief Wallabee, Danon Bourbon, Incredibolt, Commandment, Wonder Dean (JPN), So Happy, Emerging Market, Further Ado, Potente, Six Speed, Robusta, Albus, Intrepido, Litmus Test and Pavlovian. Great White was scratched at the gate.
DeVaux became the 19th female trainer to start a runner in the Kentucky Derby.
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