The original title of this article from El Vocero is “Puertorriqueños dominan el Kentucky Derby con histórica victoria” [Puerto Ricans Conquer Kentucky Derby with a Historic Victory]. The Associated Press reported that Puerto Rico conquered Saturday’s Kentucky Derby with a historic 1-2 finish by brothers José Luis Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr., in one of the most exciting finishes of the race. Meanwhile, Cherie DeVaux (from Florida) who trained the winning horse, Golden Tempo, became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. Seven Puerto Rican jockeys participated in the Run for the Roses, a record number for Puerto Rico. Here are translated excerpts from El Vocero and El Nuevo Día.
El Vocero:In a dramatic finish at Churchill Downs, José Luis [Ortiz] guided Golden Tempo to victory after a strong charge down the stretch, overtaking his brother Irad, who was riding Renegade.
For José Luis, this is his first Kentucky Derby victory after 11 attempts, marking one of the most important moments of his career in American horse racing. The one-and-an-eighth-mile race was decided in the final strides, where Golden Tempo responded powerfully to secure the win and give Puerto Rico a historic victory.
The victory also marked a historic milestone off the field. Trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train the winner of the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown. DeVaux is only the second woman to win a Triple Crown race, after Jena Antonucci, who won the Belmont Stakes in 2023. [. . .]
El Nuevo Día: He is the third Puerto Rican jockey to win the Run for the Roses.
On his eleventh attempt, José Luis Ortiz finally raised his right arm this Saturday and celebrated his first victory, crossing the finish line in the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. José Luis had just overtaken his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., in a dramatic finish and a historic moment for Puerto Rican horse racing. [. . .]
José Luis is the third Puerto Rican jockey to win the Derby. Ángel “Junior” Cordero Jr. won it three times, and John Velázquez, from Carolina, also has three victories in his career.
It was a sublime moment for José Luis, whose parents were there to witness his extraordinary feat. [. . .]
A record seven Puerto Rican jockeys participated in the Run for the Roses, a record number for Puerto Rico; previously, the highest number had been four.
Incredibolt, ridden by Jaime Torres, finished sixth; Further Ado, ridden by John Velázquez, finished eleventh; Robusta, ridden by Cristian Torres, took fourteenth place, followed by Albus, ridden by Manny Franco; and Pavlovian, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, finished last among the 18 horses that ran in this edition.
“It’s a dream I’ve always had as a jockey. It’s the race you want to win. I just won the Dubai Derby, but this is special, it’s the Kentucky Derby.”
When José Luis crossed the finish line, he immediately high-fived his brother Irad. “He congratulated me, told me I deserved it. That he was really happy for me. As brothers, we’ll always support each other. This time, he came in second, but I hope I’ll win it someday.”
[Photo above by Jeff Roberson: José Luis Ortiz celebrates after crossing the finish line in first place. In the background, his brother, Irad Ortiz, Jr.]
Excerpts translated by Ivette Romero. For original articles (in Spanish), see https://www.elvocero.com/deportes/puertorrique-os-dominan-el-kentucky-derby-con-hist-rica-victoria/article_0ca69f28-810d-4c64-89b7-633d260a5663.html and www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/otros-deportes/notas/el-sueno-de-mi-vida-jose-luis-ortiz-toca-la-gloria-en-el-kentucky-derby-al-lado-de-su-hermano-irad/