Cherie DeVaux (born December 2, 1981)[1] is an American thoroughbred racehorse trainer. In 2026, she won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes as the trainer of Golden Tempo, becoming the first woman to train a Derby winner and the second to train a Belmont winner, after Jena Antonucci.
Early life
editDeVaux was born to Janet and Adrian DeVaux in Saratoga Springs, New York. The family moved when she was young to Englewood, Florida.[2][3] She has nine siblings (seven brothers and two sisters).[4] Her father and several siblings are also involved in the horse world, training horses for flat and harness racing.[3] She attended Lemon Bay High School and Florida Gulf Coast University. She also rode horses and competed in barrel racing.[3]
Career
editDeVaux in her early years worked as an assistant trainer for Chuck Simon and Chad Brown.[2]
DeVaux started her horse training business in 2018 with eight horses. She won her first race on her 29th start.[5][6] She trained several horses for Breeders' Cup races in 2021, 2023, and 2024, winning the 2024 Breeders' Cup Mile as the trainer of More Than Looks.[1][7][8]
She also trained She Feels Pretty to 2025 American National Champion Female Turf Horse honors, the first for herself and for owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson.[9] During her racing career, She Feels Pretty has won multiple Grade 1 races including the Natalma Stakes at 2, Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at 3 and the E.P. Taylor Stakes at 4.[10][11]
On May 2, 2026, DeVaux became the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby when her horse, Golden Tempo, closed from last to win.[12] She later won the 2026 Belmont Stakes, again as the trainer of Golden Tempo, who came from behind to earn a second Triple Crown win in 2026. She is the first woman trainer to win the Belmont.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b "Cherie DeVaux". keenland.com. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ a b Demling, Jody (2026-04-27). "Cherie DeVaux has chance to become first female trainer to win Kentucky Derby". WLKY. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ^ a b c Baron, Jaylen (2026-05-06). "Family celebrates Cherie DeVaux after historic Kentucky Derby victory". WBBH. Archived from the original on 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ^ Whyno, Stephen (2026-05-01). "At the track, on the air and behind the scenes, women make the Kentucky Derby happen". AP News. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
- ^ Kane, Mike (July 2, 2025). DeVaux Honored to Follow Lukas at Spa Barn. Thoroughbred Daily News.
- ^ Hamelback, Hannah (2026-05-02). "Cherie DeVaux chases history to become the first female Kentucky Derby-winning trainer". LEX 18 News - Lexington, KY (WLEX). Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ^ Woodroof, Cory (May 2, 2026). "Meet Cherie DeVaux, the trainer who just made Kentucky Derby history". For The Win. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ "Breeders' Cup Breakthrough: Cherie DeVaux". breederscup.com. Retrieved 2026-05-02.
- ^ "She Feels Pretty a First-Time Champion for DeVaux". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
- ^ Rollins, Molly (October 12, 2024). "She Feels Pretty Scores Explosive Victory in QEII Cup". Bloodhorse. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ King, Byron (August 16, 2025). "She Feels Pretty Narrowly Prevails in E.P. Taylor". Bloodhorse. Archived from the original on October 9, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Jordan, Bob (May 2, 2026). "Who is Cherie Devaux? Her horse Golden Tempo just won an historic Kentucky Derby". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ^ Menez, Gene (6 June 2026). "2026 Belmont Stakes results, winner: Golden Tempo earns another title with comeback victory in New York". CBS Sports. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
