In a historic moment that will echo through the annals of thoroughbred racing, trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner on May 2, as her longshot charge Golden Tempo stormed home in a breathtaking come-from-behind victory in the 152nd Run for the Roses.

DeVaux, 44, watched the race trackside in a vibrant red blazer, tears streaming down her face. When NBC caught up with her for a post-race interview, she was visibly breathless with emotion. "I honestly don't know what to say," she managed, her voice cracking. "I'm just glad I could be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds to."

For those in Southwest Florida, this victory carries a special resonance. DeVaux attended Florida Gulf Coast University from 2000 to 2002 before transferring to the University at Albany. On her social media profiles, she proudly lists her hometown as Englewood, a coastal community on Florida's Gulf Coast that now shares in her historic achievement.

Golden Tempo, dismissed as a 23-1 longshot, delivered a performance for the ages. Under the masterful guidance of jockey Jose Ortiz—who earned his first Derby win in the process—the colt unleashed a furious charge down the backstretch, crossing the wire in 2:02.27. The victory marked only the 19th time in Derby history that a woman-trained horse had entered the starting gate, and the first time one had reached the winner's circle. The closest previous attempt came from Shelley Riley, who finished second with Casual Lies way back in 1992.

Born in Saratoga Springs, New York, DeVaux grew up immersed in horse racing culture. But her path to the Derby winner's circle wasn't a straight line. Initially pursuing a career in medicine at SUNY Albany, she eventually left college behind, drawn back to the racetrack where she felt most at home. She honed her craft as an assistant trainer for the late Chuck Simon and later for Chad Brown before launching her own stable in 2018.

That decision wasn't easy. Speaking with NBC after Saturday's triumph, DeVaux revealed she was at a "crossroads in life" during the summer of 2017. It was her husband, bloodstock agent David Ingordo, who encouraged her to keep chasing her dream. That faith paid off: DeVaux collected her first graded stakes victory with Gam's Mission in the 2021 Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs, won her first Grade I race in 2023, and trained 2024 Breeders' Cup Mile winner More Tha before reaching racing's ultimate summit with Golden Tempo.

For a trainer with deep Florida roots, this Derby win is more than a personal milestone—it's an inspiration for every horsewoman and horseman who has ever dreamed of hearing "And down the stretch they come!"