LOUISVILLE, Ky. — History was made Saturday at Churchill Downs as Golden Tempo made Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner as the 23-1 longshot edged Renegade by a neck at the wire.
DeVaux, who has saddled 298 winners in 1,802 career starts, joined Jena Antonucci, who trained Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont Stakes, as the only female trainers to win Triple Crown races.
Sired by Curlin, Golden Tempo made his way to Louisville by winning the Lecomte Stakes and finishing third in both the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby — all races held at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.
Renegade, the morning-line favorite at 4-1, also sought to make history by becoming the first horse to win out of the inside gate in 40 years. Midway through the race, he was 15 lengths back. However, under Irad Ortiz Jr., he made a mad dash down the stretch, only to be outdueled by the colt ridden by Jose Ortiz, Irad’s brother.
Renegade charged outside and took the lead late, only for Golden Tempo to go one lane farther outside and overtake Renegade just before the wire.
In going the 1-1/4 miles in 2:02.27, Golden Tempo paid $48.24 to win, $19.14 to place and $11.90 to show. Renegade, who went off as the second choice behind Further Ado, paid $7.14 and $5.46, while Ocelli paid $36.34.
The start to the chilliest Derby since 1989 was delayed several minutes when Great White dropped his jockey and rolled over while waiting to enter the gate. That led to him being a last-minute scratch and prompted track officials to unload and reload the starting gate.
Great White appeared fine as he trotted off the track.
Saturday’s Kentucky Derby was the first race in thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. The next leg is the Preakness Stakes, which takes place on Saturday, May 16, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Laurel will host the race this year while Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course undergoes a $400 million renovation.
–Steve Bittenbender, Field Level Media
