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Kentucky Derby witnessed a historic moment on Saturday, April 2, as trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to win the iconic Run for the Roses after her horse Golden Tempo stormed to victory at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, Golden Tempo entered the race as a 23-1 outsider and trailed the field in the early stages. But the colt unleashed a powerful late charge, overtaking the pack and surging past Renegade in the final stretch to seal the win.
“The only thing I want to do in my career is be the first female to win a Kentucky Derby,” DeVaux had earlier told LEX18. Reflecting on her decision to step out on her own, she admitted she had felt burned out as an assistant trainer and wanted to build something for herself. “I was burned out from being an assistant trainer. I wanted to do something more for myself,” she said.
On Saturday, that ambition turned into history as Golden Tempo delivered the defining victory of her career, making DeVaux’s wish fulfilled.
Cherie DeVaux is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer who made history on May 2, 2026, as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, saddling 23-1 longshot Golden Tempo to victory in the 152nd running. DeVaux was born on December 2, 1981, in Saratoga Springs, New York, and comes from a family deeply connected to horse racing.
Her family was involved in Standardbred racing, while her brother Jimmy has won more than 5,000 races as a driver and trainer, as per her bio from Keeneland Racing.
Interestingly, DeVaux initially studied pre-med in college before deciding to pursue a career with horses. She began as a stable worker for trainer Chuck Simon at Saratoga and spent six years there before joining the operation of trainer Chad Brown, where she worked as an assistant for eight years.
She played a key role in champion Lady Eli’s comeback after the horse recovered from laminitis and returned to racing after more than a year away. DeVaux received her trainer’s license in 2018 and recorded her first career win on March 29, 2019, at Gulfstream Park with Traveling.
After the race, she had over 4,000 Instagram followers and was following over 1,500 people.
Her first stakes win came in 2021 with Gam’s Mission in the Regret Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. She secured her first Grade 1 victory in 2023 with She Feels Pretty in the Johnnie Walker Red Natalma Stakes (G1) at Woodbine.
In 2024, she added a Breeders’ Cup Mile win with More Than Looks and continued her strong run at Keeneland, where she maintains a year-round training operation.
By the end of 2025, her North American career earnings had crossed $30 million, with 272 career wins. She Feels Pretty also earned the 2025 Eclipse Award as the champion turf female.
DeVaux is married to Central Kentucky-based bloodstock agent David Ingordo. Her younger sister Adrianne also entered training in September 2024 after working with Cherie for four years.
Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, Golden Tempo entered the race as a 23-1 outsider and trailed the field in the early stages. But the colt unleashed a powerful late charge, overtaking the pack and surging past Renegade in the final stretch to seal the win.
“The only thing I want to do in my career is be the first female to win a Kentucky Derby,” DeVaux had earlier told LEX18. Reflecting on her decision to step out on her own, she admitted she had felt burned out as an assistant trainer and wanted to build something for herself. “I was burned out from being an assistant trainer. I wanted to do something more for myself,” she said.
On Saturday, that ambition turned into history as Golden Tempo delivered the defining victory of her career, making DeVaux’s wish fulfilled.
Who is Cherie DeVaux?
Cherie DeVaux is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer who made history on May 2, 2026, as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, saddling 23-1 longshot Golden Tempo to victory in the 152nd running. DeVaux was born on December 2, 1981, in Saratoga Springs, New York, and comes from a family deeply connected to horse racing.
Her family was involved in Standardbred racing, while her brother Jimmy has won more than 5,000 races as a driver and trainer, as per her bio from Keeneland Racing.
Interestingly, DeVaux initially studied pre-med in college before deciding to pursue a career with horses. She began as a stable worker for trainer Chuck Simon at Saratoga and spent six years there before joining the operation of trainer Chad Brown, where she worked as an assistant for eight years.
She played a key role in champion Lady Eli’s comeback after the horse recovered from laminitis and returned to racing after more than a year away. DeVaux received her trainer’s license in 2018 and recorded her first career win on March 29, 2019, at Gulfstream Park with Traveling.
After the race, she had over 4,000 Instagram followers and was following over 1,500 people.
Cherie DeVaux's career highlights
Her first stakes win came in 2021 with Gam’s Mission in the Regret Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. She secured her first Grade 1 victory in 2023 with She Feels Pretty in the Johnnie Walker Red Natalma Stakes (G1) at Woodbine.
In 2024, she added a Breeders’ Cup Mile win with More Than Looks and continued her strong run at Keeneland, where she maintains a year-round training operation.
By the end of 2025, her North American career earnings had crossed $30 million, with 272 career wins. She Feels Pretty also earned the 2025 Eclipse Award as the champion turf female.
Cherie DeVaux's personal life
DeVaux is married to Central Kentucky-based bloodstock agent David Ingordo. Her younger sister Adrianne also entered training in September 2024 after working with Cherie for four years.
