The roar from the Churchill Downs crowd wasn't just for the horse crossing the wire first—it was for the woman holding the reins behind the scenes. Cherie DeVaux, a name few casual fans knew before Saturday, is now etched into the annals of horse racing lore after her colt Golden Tempo pulled off a stunning 30-1 upset in the 152nd Kentucky Derby.
Golden Tempo, a son of the legendary sire Curlin, came from dead last in the 18-horse field, weaving through traffic and charging down the stretch to nip favorite Renegade at the wire. The victory made DeVaux the first female trainer in Derby history to saddle a winner—a barrier-breaking moment that sent shockwaves through the sport.
In the immediate aftermath, cameras found DeVaux still clutching her young son, refusing to put him down even as reporters jostled for an interview. She delivered a tearful, heartfelt reaction that resonated far beyond the track. Social media lit up with fans celebrating both the win and the moment.
“I love this for her. Woo hoo,” one fan posted on X.
“A historic day for Churchill Downs! Cherie DeVaux just showed the world what’s possible. Such an incredible moment for the sport and a well-deserved win for Golden Tempo,” wrote another.
“Congratulations, this woman has a real gem!” a third added.
DeVaux has been building her stable for nearly a decade, with 297 wins from over 1,800 starts since 2018—a solid 16% win rate and a 43% in-the-money clip. But 2024 was her true breakout, when More Than Looks captured the Breeders' Cup Mile and pushed her earnings to a career-best $10.2 million, good for 15th nationally. The following year, she ranked 17th after She Feels Pretty and Vahva both finished second in Breeders' Cup races.
Still, nothing compares to a Derby win. Golden Tempo, dismissed by oddsmakers at 30-1, proved the doubters wrong with a last-to-first stunner that has the entire racing world buzzing about a potential Triple Crown run.
If DeVaux enters Golden Tempo in the Preakness Stakes in two weeks, she’ll have a chance to become the first woman to seriously contend for the sport’s most elusive prize. Fans are already dreaming big, and the praise hasn't stopped flowing.
“This is what horse racing needs—new faces, new stories,” said one longtime observer. “DeVaux is a trailblazer, and Golden Tempo might just be the horse to carry her all the way.”
