Who is Cherie DeVaux, the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby? | | Sports News

The DeVaux-trained Golden Tempo beats the odds to give jockey Jose Ortiz victory in his first derby.

With the difficulties that were placed upon him, Golden Tempo cruised to an improbable victory in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, making trainer Cherie DeVaux the first woman to saddle a winner in the United States’ most prestigious horse race.

Sent off at 24-1 odds for Saturday’s race, Golden Tempo broke slowly under jockey Jose Ortiz and trailed the 18-horse field before passing traffic and pulling out a late charge from the outside to take the “Run for the Roses” by a neck on a fast day in Louisville, Kentucky.

Renegade, the 5-1 cofavourite ridden by Ortiz’s brother Irad Ortiz Jr, finished second while 70-1 length Ocelli was third in front of a crowd of 150,415.

DeVaux cried tears of joy and celebrated with her family as the song made history.

Here’s what we know about DeVaux, the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby:

Who is Cherie DeVaux?

The 44-year-old from Saratoga Springs, New York, is a Kentucky-trained trainer who grew up around horses and has a family history in the sport.

In order to avoid being tired as an assistant coach, he got the chance to go solo and received his training license in 2018. The move paid off when he got his first win in 2019 in his 29th start.

Since then, he has won more than 300 matches, including 21 wins in 2026 before the derby.

What is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes comes up on May 16 before the series ends with the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

The race normally features 20 races but went ahead with 18 horses on Saturday after two were kicked out earlier in the week.

What did DeVaux say when he won?

DeVaux joins Jena Antonucci as the second woman to coach a Triple Crown winner. She was only the 18th woman to lift a horse in the derby in its 152-year history, and the severity of the problem was known to her days earlier when she saw a young woman on her back and realized what she was doing.

“It’s an honor to be that person for other women or other little girls to be respected,” DeVaux said. You can dream big, and you can move. You can come from one place and make yourself part of more.”

DeVaux, speaking shortly after making the record, said he hopes the winning streak continues.

“I’m glad I can stand up for women everywhere,” she said, crediting her husband for encouraging her to pursue her dream of studying when she was at the crossroads in 2017.

He said: “We can do whatever we want.”

DeVaux credits growing up with seven brothers and two sisters for her resilience. After winning the derby on her first try eight years after starting her stable, she thanked her husband for encouraging her to give her a chance.

“I couldn’t believe it,” DeVaux said. “I started my career here 22 years ago as a bright-eyed, fast-paced gymnast.