Cherie DeVaux didn't just make history on Saturday—she shattered a 150-year-old barrier. Sending out 23-1 longshot Golden Tempo in the Kentucky Derby, she became the first female trainer ever to win the Run for the Roses, a milestone that has eluded women since the race began in 1875.

From the back of the pack to the front of the field, Golden Tempo delivered a performance for the ages. The colt was dead last in the early going, but launched a breathtaking rally that swallowed up the competition, surging past Renegade in the final strides to capture the roses at Churchill Downs.

"The only thing I want to do in my career is be the first female to win a Kentucky Derby," DeVaux told LEX18 before the race. "This is our first Derby starter, and we're one step closer." That step turned into a full-on sprint to the winner's circle.

DeVaux's path to the Derby was anything but conventional. Born on December 2, 1981, into a harness racing family—her brother Jimmy has over 5,000 wins as a driver-trainer—she initially studied pre-med in college before gravitating toward the Thoroughbred world. She started as a stable worker for the late trainer Chuck Simon at Saratoga, spent six years learning under him, then moved to Chad Brown's elite operation as an assistant. She earned her trainer's license in 2018 and sent out her first winner in March 2019.

Now, with over $30 million in career earnings and 272 wins through late last year, DeVaux has firmly established herself among the sport's elite. She's married to bloodstock agent David Ingordo, and her younger sister Adrianne—who worked for Cherie for four years—began training in September 2024.

Before DeVaux, only 18 female-trained horses had ever started in the Kentucky Derby. The closest a woman had come was Shelley Riley, who finished second with Casual Lies in 1992. DeVaux didn't just come close—she conquered.

For fans who love the sport's underdog stories, Golden Tempo's 23-1 upset is a reminder that in horse racing, anything can happen. And for those who appreciate the style and grace of champions, DeVaux's historic victory is the kind of moment that inspires the next generation of trainers, riders, and dreamers.