Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026 at 23-1 odds for Cherie DeVaux

After a thrilling stretch run, Golden Tempo and trainer Cherie DeVaux entered the history books.

Golden Tempo and jockey Jose Ortiz rallied down the stretch to win Saturday’s $5 million, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs by a neck.

DeVaux became the first female trainer in history to win the Kentucky Derby.

“I'm glad that I could be a representative of all women everywhere and we can do whatever we put our mind to,” DeVaux said.

Golden Tempo covered the 1¼ miles on a fast dirt track in 2:02.27 and paid $48.24 on a $2 win wager.

"This is a dream come true," said Ortiz, who won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday aboard Always a Runner. "This is the biggest race in the world. I get to ride it almost every year, but to win is special.

Renegade overcame a slow start to finish second, and 70-1 long shot Ocelli — trained by 2000 St. Xavier High School graduate Whit Beckman — finished third.

Six Speed set the early fractions of 22.68 for the quarter-mile, 46.44 for the half-mile and 1:10.90 for three quarters, with Danon Bourbon and So Happy racing just behind.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert missed on his attempt to become the winningest trainer in Kentucky Derby history, remaining in a tie with Ben Jones with six wins. Baffert finished 12th with Potente and 17th with Litmus Test.

Jockey Mike Smith, 59, was looking to become the oldest jockey ever to win the Derby but failed aboard So Happy, who faded to ninth. Bill Shoemaker held on to the distinction, winning on Ferdinand in 1986 at the age of 54.

Golden Tempo improved to 3-0-2 in five career starts for Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. He entered off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 21 at Fair Grounds.

Six horses — Right to Party, The Puma, Silent Tactic, Fulleffort, Corona de Oro and Great White — were scratched in the seven days between the draw on April 25 and Saturday's race.