Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby in historic triumph for trainer DeVaux
Golden Tempo, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, crosses the finish line to win the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby (Rob Carr) Golden Tempo roared home to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, making Cherie DeVaux the first woman trainer to capture the iconic race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. "I don't even have any words right now, I just can't," an emotional DeVaux told broadcaster NBC as she made her way toward the winner's circle. "I'm just so, so happy for Golden Tempo.
" Jockey Jose Ortiz guided Golden Tempo's late surge and held off his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard early favorite Renegade, to seize his first Kentucky Derby victory in his 11th start. Renegade finished second by a neck and Ocelli, a 70-1 shot who was a late addition to the field after multiple scratches, was third.
"Jose did a wonderful job, masterful job of getting him there," DeVaux said after watching Golden Tempo, who went off at odds of 23-1, make his way from the back of the pack. "He was so far out of it. " Renegade, trying to become the first horse in 40 years to win the Kentucky Derby from the first post, was quickly shuffled back as Six Speed -- a three-time winner in Dubai -- and So Happy, ridden by veteran Mike Smith, set the early pace.
Six Speed and Japanese raider Danon Bourbon dueled for the lead for most of the race. But Ocelli, trained by Whit Beckman, ridden by Joe Ramos and chasing a first career victory, had powered to the front before Golden Tempo came through with Renegade on his heels. "He ran a race exactly kind of how we thought he was going to run," Golden Tempo owner Daisy Phipps Pulito of Phipps Stable said.
"He broke and he kind of ducked back, and Jose did a phenomenal job of getting him in a decent position. "We knew he was going to have one run ... and he had the run we needed today.