Golden Tempo Wins 2026 Kentucky Derby in Stunning Upset

The 2026 Kentucky Derby delivered a finish few saw coming, as Golden Tempo stormed from the back of the field to win the 152nd Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. The colt, sent off at 23-1 odds, looked out of contention for most of the race before finding another gear in the final stretch. What followed felt almost unreal: a late charge that turned disbelief into history in a matter of seconds.

A Race Without a Clear Favorite

The race itself had no clear favorite, and that uncertainty lingered deep into the final turn. Renegade, Commandment, and So Happy drew most of the early attention, but none could hold off the surge that came flying down the outside. By the time the field hit the wire, Golden Tempo had edged past Renegade by a nose, stopping the clock at 2:02.27 and rewriting the script of the evening.

How Golden Tempo Won

Golden Tempo’s win will be remembered for how it unfolded. Sitting dead last entering the far turn, the colt still had too much ground to cover. Even as the field straightened, he was buried in traffic, 13th in an 18-horse race. Then the gap opened. Jockey Jose Ortiz kept his composure, guided his mount to the outside, and let him run. In a matter of strides, the race flipped. Golden Tempo surged past a tightly packed group, closing with authority and just enough time to deny Renegade at the wire. Ocelli followed in third, with Chief Wallabee finishing fourth.

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Cherie DeVaux Makes History

While the finish stunned the crowd, the result carried deeper meaning. Trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, a breakthrough moment in a sport that has long waited for it. Before this, only 17 women had ever saddled a Derby runner. None had managed to win. DeVaux, who started her own stable in 2018 after years of learning under established trainers, changed that with one unforgettable race.

“I don’t even have any words right now. I just can’t,” DeVaux said. “Jose did a masterful job at getting him there. He was so far out of it.”

Jose Ortiz’s Emotional Victory

For Ortiz, the moment has both personal and professional meaning. Just a day earlier, he had won the Kentucky Oaks, completing a rare Oaks-Derby double. In the winner’s circle, surrounded by family, he reflected on what the moment meant.

“She rode, so she probably knows how big the moment is. I'm very happy to share this moment with her and my three kids,” Ortiz said. He also spoke about trusting his instincts: “Most of the time the race doesn't go the way you plan it. To have free rein to trust myself, my instincts, is very important. To have a great group of trainers that allow me to be me and to be myself — I think this helps that you can make a move and they won't be mad at you. They also got our back.”