Golden Tempo Won the Kentucky Derby 2026: Jockey Jose Ortiz, Trainer, Owner & Purse
Who won the Kentucky Derby 2026? The winning horse was Golden Tempo. Golden Tempo outperformed betting odds. The horse had a 30-1 chance to win going into the race.
According to USA Today, Golden Tempo outpaced 17 other horses. "The Puma was scratched with a swollen leg, and Great White fell before the race," the newspaper wrote.
Who Are the Jockey, Owner & Trainer for Golden Tempo?
The Kentucky Derby's bio page for Golden Tempo lists the following:
- Owner: Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)
- Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Breeder: Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables, LLC
- Earnings: $300,000
- Color: Bay
The Kentucky Derby horse Renegade was leading betting odds going into the race, not Golden Tempo. Read more about jockey Jose Ortiz here.
"Golden Tempo has won two of his four races. His wins include a maiden race (a race for horses who haven't won a race yet) on Dec. 20, 2025, where he won by 1 1/2 lengths at 5-2 odds. He also won a stakes race on Jan. 17, 2026, by 3/4 length at 5-2 odds. So far, he has earned $333,000," the Kentucky Derby bio for the horse says.
"However, Golden Tempo has finished third in his last two races. In the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 14, he finished third, 6 lengths behind the winner. Most recently, on March 21, he finished third again by one length behind. This means he hasn't won recently."
Until May 2, that is.
Golden Tempo Represented the 'Deepest Frustration in Pedigree Handicapping,' the Kentucky Derby Wrote Before the Horse Won
"Golden Tempo represents the deepest frustration in pedigree handicapping: everything points to the Derby being right for him except the sire's track record in the race itself," the bio for Golden Tempo said before the horse won the race.
"Curlin has produced three Kentucky Derby runners-up , Exaggerator, Good Magic, and Journalism, but has never crossed the wire first as a sire," adds the bio.
"The irony is that Golden Tempo's specific cross, Curlin out of a Bernardini mare, is one of the most proven mating patterns for classic stamina in American breeding, and his dam Carrumba won at 1⅛ miles," the bio says.
"Trainer DeVaux has produced a Breeders' Cup Mile winner and a 2025 champion turf mare. The numbers need to step up considerably after consecutive thirds since his Lecomte win. But if you're looking for a genuine dark horse with the late kick to challenge for a piece of the exotics, and you're willing to bet against the Curlin Derby curse, Golden Tempo deserves a place in your tickets."
How Big Is the Purse Won By Golden Tempo?
A lot of money was at stake. "The winner of the race will take home $3.1 million (more than the entire purse was back in 2023), while the horse that finishes second will still pull down $1 million," according to CBS News.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 4:27 PM.