Golden Tempo caused a massive upset in the Kentucky Derby with José Ortíz in the irons
- Turf Diario
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Puerto Rican jockey provided a formidable ride to the son of Curlin, who caught the favorite Renegade in the closing stages, completing a historic 1-2 finish for the Ortíz brothers
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— The history of world racing is usually written in the ink of legends, but what was experienced this Saturday at Churchill Downs surpassed any pre-established script. Before a crowd of 150,415 souls and under the gaze of millions of spectators, Cherie DeVaux became the first woman in history to conquer the Kentucky Derby (G1), breaking a glass ceiling that seemed unreachable in the profession and elevating Golden Tempo to the Olympus of the roses.
The 152nd edition of the race that opens the Triple Crown in the United States was as dramatic as it was historic. Following the scratch of Great White (Volatile) just before the break, the 18 competitors launched into a dizzying battle. The frontrunner Six Speed (Not This Time) set suicidal fractions of 22s68/100 and 46s44/100, while the eventual winner, a son of the extraordinary Curlin, trailed the field more than 17 lengths off the lead.
Upon entering the stretch, the pace took its toll on those at the vanguard. The undefeated Japanese runner Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) attempted a heroic move, but the wall of the final 200 meters was insurmountable. It was there that the figure of Jose Ortiz emerged; in his eleventh Derby mount, he found a clear path on the outside to launch a fierce charge. In a heart-stopping finish, Golden Tempo managed to break the resistance of Renegade (Into Mischief) by a neck—the post-time favorite who carried Irad Ortiz Jr.—sealing a historic 1-2 for the Puerto Rican brothers in the most important race of their lives.
"I simply went blank after crossing the wire," confessed an emotional Cherie DeVaux in the winner's circle while lifting the trophy that accredits her as a pioneer. Her pupil, defending the traditional silks of Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, stopped the clock in 2m2s27/100 for the two kilometers, returning a dividend of US$ 48.24 and confirming that his trainer's faith was not in vain.
The success of Golden Tempo also represents the first Derby victory for the stallion Curlin, one of the great outstanding debts of modern genetics. Bred by the Phipps family from one of their most illustrious lines—as a son of the stakes winner Carrumba (Bernardini)—the colt proved that stamina and class are the hallmarks of his lineage.
For the owners, the victory tasted like a reunion with glory; Vinnie Viola had already tasted the sweetness of success with Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), while for Phipps Stable, it meant returning to the highest podium after the success of Orb (Malibu Moon) in 2013. "We breed to run and we run to be on stages like this," stated Daisy Phipps Pulito amid hugs and tears of joy.
The defeat of Renegade, who had to overcome multiple incidents after breaking from the inside, left Irad Ortiz Jr.visibly moved by how close he came to the feat, although the final embrace with his brother Jose summarized the essence of this sport. Behind the leaders arrived Ocelli (Connect), who was on the verge of the upset of the century at 70-1 for trainer Whit Beckman, still as a maiden.
With the blanket of roses over the back of Golden Tempo, American turf begins a new era. That of a woman who, through hard work and talent, earned her place in history, and that of a horse who, coming from the back, reminded everyone that in the Kentucky Derby, nothing is impossible until the wire is crossed.
