On May 7, the worlds of horse racing and baseball collided at Yankee Stadium in a memorable display of sportsmanship. Winning Kentucky Derby 152 trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode Golden Tempo to victory, stepped up to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitches before a New York Yankees game.

Ortiz, fresh off his historic Derby win, has a special connection to the Yankees: his cousin, pitcher Elmer Rodriguez, started two games for the Bronx Bombers before being optioned to their Triple-A affiliate on May 6. The family ties run deep—Ortiz's brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., finished second in the 2026 Derby aboard Renegade, making the Ortiz brothers a powerhouse in the racing world.

Cherie DeVaux made history as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, a feat she accomplished on her very first attempt in the prestigious "Run for the Roses," which dates back to 1875. The Yankees shared a video of the duo's pitches on social media, capturing a moment that bridged two beloved sports.

Elmer Rodriguez, who made his MLB debut on April 29, admitted he was more nervous watching his cousins race in the Derby than he was during his first start on the mound. "When the race ended, I cried," he told reporters. His emotion reflected the intensity of the finish, where Golden Tempo beat Renegade by a nose as both Ortiz brothers drove their thoroughbreds on late charges from the back of the field.

For Jose Ortiz, the Derby win marked his first victory in the classic race, setting him apart from his brother—for now. "Hopefully he gets the opportunity to win it one day," Jose said of Irad following the race on May 2, "but today is not that day."

All three athletes—Rodriguez and the Ortiz brothers—hail from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, where the brothers trained as prospective jockeys before moving to New York to pursue their careers in horse racing. It's a story of family, ambition, and the thrill of victory that resonates across both the track and the diamond.