Golden Tempo Stuns Kentucky Derby 152 With 23-1 Upset Victory
The 152nd Kentucky Derby delivered the kind of finish racing fans rarely forget. Churchill Downs was already packed with anticipation before the race began, but the biggest moment came in the final stretch when Golden Tempo surged ahead at 23-1 odds to pull off a stunning upset victory.
The unexpected win quickly became the story of the weekend in Louisville. Fans and analysts alike focused on how one dramatic race delivered history, emotion, and a major surprise in less than two minutes.
Churchill Downs Started the Weekend in Full Chaos
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Kybluegrass
Derby week already had plenty of pressure before the gates opened on May 2. The race was originally expected to feature a 20-horse field, but scratches kept reshaping the lineup. Great White was removed moments before the race after flipping near the starting gate and throwing jockey Alex Achard. Earlier in the week, horses like Fulleffort, Right to Party, Silent Tactic, and The Puma were also ruled out for health concerns.
The instability only added to the atmosphere around Churchill Downs. Fans arrived expecting surprises, and the race delivered one almost immediately. Golden Tempo entered the Derby carrying long odds and far less hype than fan favorite Renegade. Most of the attention centered on the bigger names near the front of the betting board. Golden Tempo stayed in the background until the final turn changed everything.
The Final Stretch
Jose Ortiz picked the perfect moment to attack. Golden Tempo surged through traffic late and chased down Renegade just before the wire in front of more than 100,000 fans. The winning time of 2:02.27 capped one of the most dramatic finishes the Derby has seen in recent years.
The victory also gave Ortiz his first Kentucky Derby win after 11 tries. The detail became even better once fans realized he beat his brother Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Renegade to second place.
Meanwhile, Ocelli finished third after barely making the field. The horse only entered the Derby days earlier after another scratch reshuffled the lineup. That unexpected podium finish gave the race another twist in a weekend already packed with them.
Golden Tempo paid $48.24 to win, instantly becoming the horse every bettor wished they had backed five minutes earlier.
Cherie DeVaux: The Story Everyone Remembered
The race itself was thrilling, but the bigger headline arrived moments later. Cherie DeVaux officially became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. In the 152-year history of the race, only 17 women had even saddled a horse in the Derby before her breakthrough victory as number 18.
DeVaux spent much of Derby week answering questions about the possibility of making history. After the win, she admitted she was relieved those questions were finally over.
Still, the moment was clearly important to her. During race week, DeVaux talked about realizing her impact after spotting a young girl watching horses on the Churchill Downs backstretch. This changed her perspective on what a Derby victory could represent beyond racing itself.
DeVaux started her own stable eight years ago after beginning her career at Churchill Downs more than two decades earlier as an exercise rider. She also became only the second woman ever to train a Triple Crown race winner after Jena Antonucci’s Belmont Stakes victory with Arcangelo in 2023.