Cherie DeVaux’s run of firsts reached Saratoga on June 6, when Golden Tempo won the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. At 44, DeVaux—born in Saratoga—kept her emotion visible as she made history as the first female trainer to win two Triple Crown races i
Golden Tempo closed fast and clean as it surged toward the finish line at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 6—and Cherie DeVaux couldn’t hide the intensity of the moment.
DeVaux, 44, was already rewriting records ahead of the Belmont Stakes, but the win turned that momentum into something rarer. With Golden Tempo taking the 1½-mile (12 furlongs) race in 2:03.49 on a muddy track, DeVaux became the first female trainer to win two Triple Crown races in the same year.
The Belmont victory also made her only the second female trainer to win the event. joining Jena Antonucci. who won in 2023 with Arcangelo. DeVaux’s path to this day had started earlier: she became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby last month. and she’s continued building her legacy in the sport’s record books.
Born in Saratoga Springs, DeVaux began her horse training career at the race track. That hometown connection has followed her to new heights, even as the stakes moved from tradition to transformation.
After Kentucky Derby history last month, DeVaux has also used her platform to advocate for horse racing safety—an effort that sits alongside the celebration of what’s next for her, and for the industry she’s pushing to protect.
The race itself told a clear story, too. Golden Tempo handled the muddy conditions and still found its way to the front, crossing the finish in 2:03.49. DeVaux’s reaction was unmistakable as the horse charged through the final stretch. finishing the kind of feat that reshapes a season in one afternoon.
Cherie DeVaux Golden Tempo Belmont Stakes Saratoga Race Course Kentucky Derby Triple Crown horse racing safety muddy track 2:03.49 Jena Antonucci