Kentucky Derby 2026: Cherie DeVaux becomes first female trainer to win big at Churchill Downs

On Saturday, Golden Tempo rode to victory at the 2026 Kentucky Derby, becoming the latest longshot to win. But the impressive win was also a historic one: With Golden Tempo beating out co-favorite Renegade at the finish line, trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win at the Kentucky Derby.

DeVaux trained the bay-colored colt for Phipps Stable, owned by Daisy Phipps Pulito, and St. Elias Stable, owned by Vincent Viola. The horse, set at 23-1 odds heading into the event, picked up the win behind an impressive mad dash from 18th to 1st with jockey Jose Ortiz.

After the race, DeVaux celebrated with her husband, sister, daughter and nephew by her side shedding plenty of tears of joy.

“I’m glad that I could be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds to,” DeVaux said on the broadcast while holding her young nephew, Maverick.

Who is Cherie DeVaux?

Originally from Saratoga Springs, New York, DeVaux is a thoroughbred trainer based in Kentucky who has been training since 2018. In all, DeVaux has racked up more than 1,800 starts since then, per Equibase. She’s earned 297 first-place finishes and $32,944,104 in total prize money over those eight years.

That money doesn’t include the $310,000 that DeVaux will net for training the winning Kentucky Derby horse, earning 10% of the $3.1 million payout for the winner.

Much of DeVaux’s family is involved in the horse training world, per DeVaux’s Keeneland : DeVaux’s brother, Jimmy, is a driver and trainer, while her sister Adrianne began training in 2024. DeVaux’s husband, David Ingordo, is a bloodstock agent — i.e., an agent for the buying and selling of thoroughbreds.