Golden Tempo, winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby, is owned in partnership by Phipps Stable and Vincent Viola St Elias Stable.
Golden Tempo built his reputation with a stunning last to first move at the 152nd Kentucky Derby, winning at 23 to 1 odds under jockey Jose Ortiz.
The colt was bred by Phipps Stable, one of the most historic ownership groups in American thoroughbred racing, and trained by Cherie DeVaux, who became the first female trainer to win the Derby.
So who exactly are the people behind the silks that carried Golden Tempo to victory at Churchill Downs.
This guide will explore Golden Tempo ownership partnership, his breeding background, his historic Derby win, and how he performed afterward in the rest of the Triple Crown series.
So let us get started.
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Who Owns Golden Tempo Right Now

Phipps Stable and Vincent Viola St Elias Stable jointly own Golden Tempo, a partnership that combines two of the most respected ownership groups in thoroughbred racing. Race details are listed on the official New York Racing Association Belmont page.
Daisy Phipps Pulito represents the Phipps Stable side of the partnership, continuing a family racing legacy that dates back multiple generations.
Vincent Viola, who also owns the NHL Florida Panthers, represents St Elias Stable, bringing significant financial backing and racing experience to the partnership.
Golden Tempo Breeding And Background
Golden Tempo was foaled on February 7, 2023, bred by Phipps Stable as an American thoroughbred with an impressive pedigree.
The colt sire is Curlin, the 2007 and 2008 American Horse of the Year, giving Golden Tempo elite bloodlines from one of the most successful stallions in modern racing.
Golden Tempo dam is Carrumba, with Bernardini serving as his damsire, rounding out a pedigree built specifically for stamina and late race speed.
The Historic 2026 Kentucky Derby Win
Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs, completing a dramatic last to first move under jockey Jose Ortiz.
The colt crossed the finish line at 23 to 1 odds, an improbable result that surprised many bettors who had not considered him among the favorites heading into the race, according to NBC News coverage of the race.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer in history to win the Kentucky Derby, adding historic significance to Golden Tempo victory beyond the race result itself.
Jose Ortiz First Career Derby Win
Jockey Jose Ortiz won his first career Kentucky Derby aboard Golden Tempo, finally breaking through on his eleventh attempt at the historic race.
Ortiz has built a long and successful career in thoroughbred racing, and the Derby win added a major milestone that had eluded him across more than a decade of trying.
His ride aboard Golden Tempo, timing the late race move perfectly, was widely praised, according to ESPN coverage, as one of the most well executed rides of the entire Triple Crown season.
Vincent Viola Wider Sports Ownership Portfolio
Vincent Viola built his fortune in finance before expanding into sports ownership, purchasing the NHL Florida Panthers in 2013 well before adding St Elias Stable thoroughbred interests.
That combination of professional sports team ownership and horse racing investment is relatively unusual, giving Viola a broad footprint across multiple major sports and entertainment industries.
His involvement in Golden Tempo victory adds another high profile chapter to a sports ownership career that already includes a major professional hockey franchise. Wealthy families diversifying across sports, hospitality, and other industries is a common pattern, similar to the dynamic covered in our guide to who owns Hyatt, where the Pritzker family built wealth across multiple unrelated business ventures.
Golden Tempo Performance In The Rest Of The Triple Crown
Following his Kentucky Derby win, Golden Tempo went on to compete in the 2026 Belmont Stakes, continuing his strong three year old campaign.
His connections, including Phipps Stable and St Elias Stable, continued campaigning him through the rest of the Triple Crown series following the historic Derby upset.
Owners in this sport, similar to how team owners fund franchises across other major sports, take on significant financial risk in hopes of exactly this kind of breakthrough result. Our guide to who owns the NFL covers a very different sports ownership model built around 32 permanent franchises rather than individual horses.
Is Golden Tempo Really Worth Following As A Racing Fan
Golden Tempo Kentucky Derby win ranks among the more memorable upsets in recent Triple Crown history, given his long odds and dramatic late race move.
Racing fans and analysts frequently point to Cherie DeVaux historic training achievement as one of the most significant storylines to come out of the entire 2026 racing season.
The Phipps Stable and St Elias Stable partnership also adds a compelling ownership story, blending old school racing pedigree with newer investment from Vincent Viola sports business background.
For casual racing fans, Golden Tempo underdog story and historic connections make him one of the more compelling horses to follow through the rest of his racing career.
For serious handicappers, his pedigree and demonstrated late race closing ability suggest he could remain competitive in upcoming major stakes races.
Phipps Stable itself traces back multiple generations, representing one of the oldest continuously operating ownership groups in American thoroughbred racing history.
That long institutional history gives the Phipps side of Golden Tempo ownership a depth of racing expertise that few other partnerships in the sport can match.
That expertise, paired with St Elias Stable financial resources, gives Golden Tempo connections a strong foundation for continued success in future major stakes races.
Racing fans will be watching closely to see how the colt performs as his three year old campaign continues.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golden Tempo
Who Trains Golden Tempo?
Cherie DeVaux trains Golden Tempo, becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby with his 2026 victory.
Who Rode Golden Tempo In The Kentucky Derby?
Jose Ortiz rode Golden Tempo to victory, winning his first career Kentucky Derby on his eleventh attempt.
What Odds Did Golden Tempo Win At?
Golden Tempo won the 2026 Kentucky Derby at 23 to 1 odds.
Who Bred Golden Tempo?
Phipps Stable bred Golden Tempo, who was foaled on February 7, 2023, by the stallion Curlin.

I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.