Cherie DeVaux on making history at Kentucky Derby: 'I could not believe that he had won'
Cherie DeVaux trainer of Golden Tempo #19, the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, celebrates with the trophy in the winner's circle following the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 02, 2026 in Louisville, Kentu
Cherie DeVaux is still struggling to believe it—but her late-charging colt Golden Tempo delivered a stunning Kentucky Derby victory that turned a lifelong grind into racing’s biggest moment.
Golden Tempo was last in a field of 18 horses for much of the Kentucky Derby.
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By the time the race ended, Golden Tempo won by a neck, bucking the trend of closers not being able to come from behind at Churchill Downs recently and making DeVaux the first female trainer with a Derby champion.
Cherie Devaux on historic Kentucky Derby win
MAKING HISTORY: Trainer Cherie DeVaux joins LiveNOW to discuss her historic Kentucky Derby win. DeVaux joins Jena Antonucci, with Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont, as the only women to train the winner of a Triple Crown race.
What they're saying:
DeVaux described Golden Tempo’s Kentucky Derby win as an emotional, almost surreal moment shaped by the horse’s dramatic closing style.
She explained to LiveNOW from FOX that "with Golden Tempo’s running style, it kind of crescendos into that big excitement of his late run," building anticipation as he charges from behind.
Watching the finish unfold, she said, "when I saw him get ahead, I just… could not believe that he had won," adding that the entire experience left her in disbelief after a week of joking "if I win, if we win, it’s going to be a one and done."
She emphasized that while the historic nature of her win has drawn attention, it wasn’t something she set out to achieve. "I’ve always said I’m a horse trainer that happens to be female," she said, noting that the recognition has been "overwhelming."
Still, she sees the impact it may have on others as meaningful: "it’s an honor… to be a person that other women or young women look up to," even as she admitted it has taken "over a week… just to believe that we won."
Breaking down the race itself, Devaux recalled watching Golden Tempo begin his move: "I saw him starting to pick horses off at the top of the stretch. That’s usually when he makes his run."
What's next:
DeVaux and owners decided to skip the Preakness and set their sights on the Belmont Stakes on June 6 at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York.
Golden Tempo is the third Derby winner in the past five years not to be entered in the Preakness.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes primarily from an interview Cherie DeVaux gave to LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from Los Angeles.