Golden Tempo wins Kentucky Derby 2026: Live updates and reaction from Churchill Downs

Let’s hear from some of the other jockeys on how the race unfolded.

Irad Ortiz Jr. (Renegade, second): “We got squeezed at the start. We came flying late, but the winner just got the jump on me. He ran very well.”

Tyler Gaffalione (Ocelli, third): “He gave me a really good run and proud of his effort. We were just not able to get the job done but hats off to the winner and runner-up. They ran huge races.”

Junior Alvarado (Chief Wallabee, fourth): “I had a good trip, I thought I was in the position I wanted to be. I was following Further Ado, and at the eighth pole, things got a little tight and we lost a little momentum. But he ran a pretty good race, nothing to be ashamed of. He gave me what he had today.”

Luis Saez (Commandment, seventh): “It was a rough trip, everybody was all over the place. He ran pretty well and made a nice move, but it was just a tough race.”

Mike Smith (So Happy, ninth): “He just did too much early on and we went too fast.”