Golden Tempo jockey Jose Ortiz beats out brother to win first Kentucky Derby

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Golden Tempo jockey Jose Ortiz beats out brother to win first Kentucky Derby

Golden Tempo jockey Jose Ortiz beats out brother to win first Kentucky Derby

Here's a breakdown of the meaning of Ortiz's victory.

Golden Tempo jockey Jose Ortiz beats out brother to win first Kentucky Derby

Here's a breakdown of the meaning of Ortiz's victory.

The 152nd Kentucky Derby delivered unforgettable drama, and at the heart of it was a family rivalry for the ages. Jockey Jose Ortiz rode Golden Tempo to a stunning come-from-behind victory, securing his first-ever Derby win—and doing it by edging out his own brother.

Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux, pulled off a remarkable last-to-first charge that left the crowd at Churchill Downs roaring. DeVaux made history as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, but Ortiz also carved his name into the record books. After 10 previous Derby rides without a win, the 32-year-old finally got his moment in the sun.

The finish was especially sweet—and tense—because the runner-up was Renegade, the race favorite, ridden by none other than Jose’s older brother, Irad Ortiz. The two siblings battled neck-and-neck down the stretch, with Golden Tempo barely holding off Renegade at the wire. It was a photo finish that will be talked about for years.

For Jose, the win capped an incredible weekend. Just one day earlier, he won the Kentucky Oaks aboard Always a Runner, making him only the ninth jockey in history to complete the prestigious Kentucky double. The brothers had entered the Derby a combined 0-19, but Jose’s breakthrough victory now gives the Ortiz family a legendary chapter in horse racing lore.

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