Cherie DeVaux just made history as the first female trainer to win two out of three Triple Crown races. Three-year-old colt Golden Tempo placed first in the 152nd Kentucky Derby and pulled out a second win on Saturday in Saratoga Springs at the 158th Belmont Stakes.
While DeVaux is, as of this year, the only female to train a Kentucky Derby winner, she isn’t the only woman to make history at the Saratoga Race Course. That title goes to Jena Antonucci, whose horse Archangelo took first place in 2023. But Cherie is the only woman to have two Triple Crown wins under her belt.
Why didn’t Cherie DeVaux win all three Triple Crown events?
Golden Tempo seems to have what it takes. But the horse only won two of the three events. So why didn’t DeVaux’s colt sweep the Triple Crown?
Following the history-making Kentucky Derby win, DeVaux (and the horse’s owners) made the decision to keep Golden Tempo out of the Preakness Stakes. Even though he’s clearly in top form, the trainer didn’t want to push the winner.
The reactions to her decision were mixed. DeVaux later told Fox News Digital, “I understand that fans of the sport or fans of the Triple Crown are disappointed, but the horse is not a machine.” She continued, “I have to advocate as the trainer to the owners or the clients, and we had a conversation; it wasn’t my decision. It was a decision we made as a group, and I’m sorry if people don’t understand what goes into it.”
DeVaux added, “We are not committing to this, and they’re horses, like they’re animals, and they’re not just a car you can go out and run them in two weeks. That’s not how it works, and unfortunately, if you’re not going to understand, then I can’t help you.”
Of course, DeVaux is always in the horse’s corner, praising the winner and his jockey, Jose Ortiz, in a post-race interview with Fox Sports (after the historic second win): “Golden Tempo is amazing, Jose is amazing.” The trainer also added, “It’s so meaningful because the town gets to have this. And celebrate it along with all of us.” “
Cherie also explained, “I think he needs to do this to kind of show that he was meant to win the Derby and that he is a horse that belongs in the conversation of being one of the top three-year-olds.”
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Congrats go out to DeVaux and, of course, Golden Tempo!
