Golden Tempo's last-to-first Kentucky Derby win explained

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Golden Tempo's last-to-first Kentucky Derby win explained

Golden Tempo's last-to-first Kentucky Derby win explained

Watching from the stands, trainer Cherie DeVaux was not worried when her horse Golden Tempo was last in a field of 18 horses for much of the Kentucky Derby. “That’s how he runs, so it’s not like we really did anything different than he had done in his previous starts,” DeVaux said. While Golden Te

Golden Tempo's last-to-first Kentucky Derby win explained

Watching from the stands, trainer Cherie DeVaux was not worried when her horse Golden Tempo was last in a field of 18 horses for much of the Kentucky Derby. “That’s how he runs, so it’s not like we really did anything different than he had done in his previous starts,” DeVaux said. While Golden Tempo got bumped by Ocelli to his outside at the break, 38-1 long shot Six Speed went to the lead out of the starting gate and was joined near the front by So Happy and Danon Bourbon.

In a stunning display of patience and precision, Golden Tempo delivered one of the most memorable victories in recent Kentucky Derby history, coming from dead last to win the 152nd running of the "Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs.

While many trainers would have felt a knot in their stomach watching their horse trail an 18-horse field, Cherie DeVaux remained remarkably calm. "That's how he runs, so it's not like we really did anything different than he had done in his previous starts," DeVaux said from the stands, exuding the confidence that comes from knowing her horse's unique racing style.

The race got off to a chaotic start when Golden Tempo was bumped by Ocelli at the break, but jockey Jose L. Ortiz kept his cool. Meanwhile, 38-1 long shot Six Speed burst to the lead, setting a blistering pace alongside So Happy and Danon Bourbon as the field thundered down the backstretch.

As the pack rounded the final turn, Golden Tempo began his trademark surge, picking off rivals one by one. Ortiz, celebrating his first Kentucky Derby victory, guided the colt through traffic with surgical precision. The crowd erupted as Golden Tempo found his stride in the stretch, powering past tiring frontrunners to hit the wire first.

For racing enthusiasts and casual fans alike, this last-to-first triumph will be remembered as a masterclass in race strategy — and a reminder that in horse racing, it's never over until the final furlong.

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