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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 152nd Run for the Roses delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in Kentucky Derby history Saturday, as 23-1 long shot Golden Tempo stormed from dead last to victory at Churchill Downs and lifted trainer Cherie DeVaux into the record books as the first woman ever to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner.

With a packed crowd of more than 150,000 fans on their feet under bright Louisville sunshine, the bay-colored colt produced a closing kick that left rivals stunned. Jockey Jose Ortiz steered Golden Tempo from 18th place after three-quarters of a mile to a half-length triumph over Renegade, completing one of the most improbable wire-to-wire reversals the sport has seen in years.

A Historic Moment for Horse Racing

For more than 150 years, the Kentucky Derby has served as the gold standard of American thoroughbred racing — and for nearly all of that time, it has been a near-exclusive club for male trainers. DeVaux, 41, joined a list of fewer than two dozen women who have ever even saddled a horse in the race, and she is now the only one to ever win it.

"I'm glad I can be representative of women everywhere," an emotional DeVaux said in the winner's circle as her team draped Golden Tempo in the iconic blanket of red roses. "We can do anything we set our minds to."

Born in Saratoga Springs, New York — one of the most storied racing towns in America — DeVaux apprenticed under accomplished trainers Chuck Simon and Chad Brown before opening her own stable in 2018. In just eight years, she has built a barn known for patient development of horses and meticulous attention to fitness and stamina, traits that paid off Saturday on the Derby's grueling 1 1/4-mile classic distance.

From Last Place to the Roses

Golden Tempo broke evenly from post position 12 but quickly settled at the back of the 19-horse field as the early pace blazed in front. As the leaders fought for position around the far turn, Ortiz waited — and waited — before finally tipping his colt to the outside at the top of the stretch.

What followed was the kind of run that Derby legends are made of. Golden Tempo unleashed a quarter-mile burst that swallowed up tiring rivals one by one. By the eighth pole, only Renegade and pre-race favorite Iron Counsel stood between him and history. With less than 100 yards remaining, the long shot surged past both, hitting the wire in a final time of 2:00.84.

The official payout for a $2 win ticket on Golden Tempo was just under $48 — a windfall for the few brave bettors who wagered on the underdog. Trifecta and superfecta payouts climbed into the thousands.

A Stable Built on Patience and Trust

Golden Tempo is owned by Phipps Stable, run by Daisy Phipps Pulito, in partnership with Vincent Viola's St. Elias Stable. The Phipps name carries deep roots in American thoroughbred history, with the family's racing legacy stretching back nearly a century. Saturday's victory was the family's first Kentucky Derby win in decades, and one of the sport's most emotionally resonant outcomes in recent memory.

DeVaux's training methods, which emphasize gradual conditioning and avoiding overuse, were credited by analysts as crucial to Golden Tempo's late-race power. The colt entered the Derby off three measured prep races and had not been worked aggressively in the days leading up to the event — a sharp contrast to the heavily campaigned favorites.

"This horse was peaking at exactly the right moment," NBC Sports analyst Randy Moss said during the broadcast. "Cherie has been pointing him to this race the entire spring. You don't get a finish like that by accident."

Triple Crown Hopes — and Industry Implications

Attention now turns to the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in two weeks, where Golden Tempo will attempt to keep alive his bid for the first Triple Crown sweep since Justify in 2018. DeVaux indicated after the race that the colt came out of the Derby in excellent condition and is likely to ship to Maryland later this week.

Beyond the immediate sporting drama, DeVaux's victory is expected to have a lasting impact on horse racing's long-debated diversity issues. Women have made up an increasing share of grooms, exercise riders, and assistant trainers in recent decades, but the head-trainer ranks at the highest levels of the sport have remained stubbornly male-dominated. DeVaux's win, industry observers said, is likely to open new doors for women trying to climb the same ladder.

"This is a watershed moment," said Belinda Stronach, chairwoman of The Stronach Group, which operates several major U.S. tracks. "Cherie's victory will inspire a generation of young women who have been told this sport isn't for them."

Records, Crowds, and a New Chapter

Total wagering on the Derby card topped $300 million, slightly down from last year's record but still among the highest in the race's history. Television ratings are expected to set a new mark when final numbers are released early this week, fueled by the late-race drama and the historic narrative surrounding DeVaux.

For Golden Tempo, the road ahead now leads through Baltimore and, potentially, to Belmont Park in June. For Cherie DeVaux, Saturday's victory marks the culmination of two decades of work in a sport that has not always made room for her — and the beginning of what many in the industry believe will be a long, defining run at the top.

"I've been around horses since I was a little girl," DeVaux said. "I never doubted that this could happen. But standing here now, holding that trophy, you realize how much it means — not just for me, but for everyone who has been waiting to see it happen."