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Cherie DeVaux made history at Churchill Downs Saturday as the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, a milestone that quickly shifted attention to the race’s decisive factor: the ride by jockey Jose Ortiz. The win raises immediate questions about race tactics, post position and how a late-closing strategy can overturn a furious early pace.
How the race unfolded
DeVaux’s colt, Golden Tempo, began the day drawing far outside but gained ground after late scratches moved him inward to the 16th post. That outside slot kept him clear of the early scrimmage as the field jostled for inside position, allowing Ortiz to preserve ground and pick his moment.
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Rather than micro-managing the ride, DeVaux said she left decisions to Ortiz and encouraged a straightforward plan: seek a clear running lane and make one decisive bid. It proved effective. After sitting at the back through the bulk of the race, Golden Tempo swung wide as the leaders faded and closed strongly, collaring favorite Renegade down the stretch to win by a neck.
Not all connections enjoyed a smooth trip. A last-minute incident forced officials to scratch Great White after the horse unseated jockey Alex Achard and stumbled while being led to the gate, prompting several runners to reload. Golden Tempo avoided that second load, which may have helped his finishing kick.
Behind the placings
Trainer Brad Cox entered two horses, and his Commandment—ridden by Luis Saez—made a respectable move but finished seventh amid the chaos. Cox’s other entry, Further Ado, shared early favorite billing with Renegade at 5-1, while Commandment drifted to 6-1 at post time.
Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., broke from the inside post that historically had produced few recent Derby winners. Pletcher acknowledged the colt was bumped and shuffled out of position but added that the runner persevered and ran a hard race, ultimately coming up just short.
- Historic milestone: DeVaux becomes the first female trainer to claim the Kentucky Derby title, a landmark for the sport.
- Race dynamics: A blistering early pace set the stage for a closer to prevail as speed faded.
- Post-position impact: Outside draw and late scratches reshaped running room and strategy.
- Gate incident: Great White’s emergency scratch disrupted several rides; some horses had to re-enter the starting gate.
- Betting surprises: Several horses outperformed or underperformed their morning-line odds, affecting payouts and market behavior.
One betting story worth noting: So Happy, trained by a different camp and ridden by veteran Mike Smith, drew modest morning-line attention because of his sprint-bred pedigree, yet attracted heavy wagering and became the third choice in the pool. He stayed with the leaders through most of the mile but faded late to finish ninth; Smith said the colt used too much energy early in the race.
What this means going forward
The result underlines how Derby outcomes can hinge on split-second positioning, gate luck and the interplay of speed and stamina. For DeVaux, the victory is a landmark achievement that will resonate beyond one Saturday; for bettors and trainers, it’s a reminder that large fields and volatile pace scenarios often produce surprising finishers.
As the racing world digests the weekend, attention will turn to how connections prepare for the next targets and whether Golden Tempo’s closing style can be replicated under different conditions. For now, the headlines are clear: a historic training milestone, a masterful late run by a top jockey, and another edition of the Derby that rewarded patience over early speed.
