The 152nd Kentucky Derby (G1) will be one of the most memorable this century.
From uncountable lengths behind, the handsome, dark bay colt GOLDEN TEMPER (Curlin) and jockey Jose Ortiz furnished a sustained rally that amazed onlookers and got the pair the $5 million classic over Mike Repole’s well-regarded RENEGADE, ridden by Ortiz’s brother Irad. Golden Tempo is trained by CHERIE DEVAUX, who became the first woman to saddle a Derby winner in its storied history of 19 to try.
The various media outlets among the 150,000 people at Churchill Downs captured some raw and moving moments post-race, from Devaux and her sister/trainer Adrienne screaming the colt home to the Ortiz brothers grabbing hands past the wire. Jose was emotional on his ride back to the winner’s circle. Irad wiped away tears as Repole hugged him, both consoling each other for the near miss. And in the winner’s circle was Daisy Phipps, daughter of Ogden, representing her siblings including brother Ogden, one of the most famous families in American racing history. Co-owner and breeder Vinny Viola of St. Elias Stable was also hoisting the Derby trophy.
True lovers of horse racing, the Thoroughbred breed and its history will also be fascinated that the famed silks of the Phipps family were in the Derby winner’s circle. The black with cherry red cap were created in 1932 by OGDEN ‘Dinny’ PHIPPS who founded the immaculate Phipps breeding program that included the great Buckpasser and spawned legends such as Personal Ensign and Easy Goer. Phipps never won the Derby himself, but in 2013 Orb won the Derby for Phipps and his cousin Stuart Janney.
The Dubai-based colt Six Speed set a blistering pace of :22.68 and :46.44 while being hounded by So Happy and Danon Bourbon, while Golden Tempo raced far back in last place. The top three remained unchanged through six furlongs in 1:10.90 and Golden Tempo was still last but starting to gather momentum. Well back with Golden Tempo was Renegade, the second favourite at just over 5-to-1, who had a very tough beginning to the race when herded and bumped around.
On the far turn, Ortiz began to thread his way through horses, as did Renegade and 70-to-1 longshot Ocelli, a maiden.
Cherie DeVaux hugs her horse Golden Tempo and jockey Jose Ortiz. (Kentucky Derby photo)
Golden Tempo had only five horses beaten, while Japanese colt Danon Bourbon had put his head in front and by the eighth pole had surged to a two-length lead. But the closers were coming, with Ocelli putting his head in front at the sixteenth pole.
Renegade hit the front 50 yards from the wire, only to have Golden Tempo rocket by in the shadow of the wire to claim the roses. The time was a modest 2:02.27.
The victory was worth $3.1 million for the Kentucky-bred son of Curlin out of the stakes-winning Bernardini mare Carrumba. Now a two-time graded stakes winner with a record of 5-3-0-2, Golden Tempo increased his earnings to $3,433,000.
Golden Tempo returned $48.24, $19.14, $11.90. Renegade, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. returned $7.14 and $5.46 with Ocelli paying $36.34 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
“He’s a dead closer and the Louisiana Derby really solidified he was getting there from the eighth pole home,” said DeVaux, who is from Saratoga Springs, New York. “If he had extra ground he was going to make it. We had to have faith in the process, faith in the horse, faith in Jose [Ortiz]. That was an incredible experience. I’m so proud of this horse.”
Golden Tempo’s sire Curlin is one of the world’s top sires. His dam, the grey mare Carrumba, won the Top Flight Handicap (G2) in 2016 and earned over $621,000. A daughter of Bernardini, Carrumba is from Castanet, by El Prado, whose own dam is Grade 1 placed Dancinginmydreams.
Golden Tempo’s fourth dam is Oh What a Dance, also the dam of champion mare Heavenly Prize. Oh What a Dance is from the Test Stakes winner Blitey, who was bred to Nijinsky II to get Oh What a Dance. That is five generations of broodmares from the Phipps family that produced this year’s Derby winner.
Watch the race below from NBC:
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