Golden Tempo clinched victory at the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, making Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to win this prestigious race at Churchill Downs.
An emotional DeVaux expressed her joy, stating, 'I don't even have any words right now, I just can't. I'm just so, so happy for Golden Tempo.'
Jockey Jose Ortiz played a crucial role in the win, guiding Golden Tempo to a late surge that outpaced early favorite Renegade, ridden by his brother Irad Ortiz Jr.
Renegade finished a close second, just a neck behind, while Ocelli, a 70-1 long shot, took third place after being a late entry to the race.
'Jose did a wonderful job, a masterful job of getting him there,' DeVaux praised. 'He was so far out of it. He has had so much faith in this horse.'
This win marks a significant milestone in horse racing, as DeVaux is only the second female trainer to win a race in the US Triple Crown series.
DeVaux's historic win comes just months after Jena Antonucci trained Arcangelo to victory in the 2023 Belmont Stakes.
'I'm glad I can be representative of women everywhere,' DeVaux said. 'We can do anything we set our minds to.'
The race faced a slight delay when Great White flipped in the starting gate, leading to two scratches in the field originally set for 20 horses.