Kentucky Derby 2026: Golden Tempo’s Historic Last-to-First Charge
The 152nd Kentucky Derby, held on May 2, 2026, will be remembered as a milestone in horse racing history. Golden Tempo, a 23-1 longshot, staged a legendary come-from-behind victory at Churchill Downs, making Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to ever win the “Run for the Roses.”
Race Summary: A Sibling Duel at the Wire
| Feature | Details |
| Winner | Golden Tempo (23-1 odds) |
| Jockey | Jose Ortiz (His 1st Derby win in 11 tries) |
| Trainer | Cherie DeVaux (1st female trainer to win the Derby) |
| Winning Time | 2:02.27 (1 1/4 miles) |
| Winning Margin | A neck over Renegade. |
1. The “Last-to-First” Masterclass
The race began in chaos for Golden Tempo, who was bumped at the break and sat in dead last for a significant portion of the race.
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The Pace: Longshot Six Speed set a blistering early pace (46.44 for the half-mile), which eventually tired the front-runners.
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The Move: Jockey Jose Ortiz saved ground on the rail before swinging wide at the top of the stretch.
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The Finish: In a dramatic “sibling rivalry” finish, Jose Ortiz on Golden Tempo surged past his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., on the favorite Renegade, just before the wire.
2. A Historic Night for Cherie DeVaux
After starting her own stable eight years ago, DeVaux achieved what 17 women before her could not.
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A Role Model: Following the win, DeVaux stated, “I’m glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere—that we can do anything we set our minds to.”
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Triple Crown Milestone: She is only the second woman to win any Triple Crown leg, joining Jena Antonucci (2023 Belmont Stakes).
3. The Payouts & Results
With a $5 million total purse, Golden Tempo’s victory secured a $3.1 million prize for the owners (Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable).
| Place | Horse | Jockey | Payout (Estimate) |
| 1st | Golden Tempo | Jose Ortiz | $48.20 (Win) |
| 2nd | Renegade | Irad Ortiz Jr. | $5.40 (Place) |
| 3rd | Ocelli | Hector Barrios | $18.60 (Show) |
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Late Scratches: The field was reduced to 18 horses after Great White threw his jockey at the gate and The Puma was pulled due to a swollen leg.