Kentucky Derby 2026: Watch Cherie DeVaux react to Golden Tempo's mad dash to win the race

“Come on, Jose,” she screamed. “Come on Jose!”

As Golden Tempo pushed past the final cluster of racers, DeVaux was jumping up and down, her voice rising until the moment Golden Tempo crossed the finish line, at which point DeVaux collapsed with joy, before celebrating the moment with her friends and family in the box. DeVaux’s 15-year-old daughter, Reagan, was in tears by the end of the race.

In an interview on the broadcast after the race, DeVaux praised Ortiz’s performance in coaxing Golden Tempo down the stretch

“I don’t even have any words right now,” DeVaux said. “Jose did a wonderful job, masterful job at getting him there. He was so far out of it and he has had so much faith in this horse.”

DeVaux also spoke on what it was like to make history.

“I’m glad that I could be a representative of all women everywhere, that we can do anything we set our minds to,” she said.