06/04/26 02:01:00
Printable Page
06/04 14:00 CDT Cherie DeVaux returns to familiar Saratoga for the Belmont
after her historic Kentucky Derby
Cherie DeVaux returns to familiar Saratoga for the Belmont after her historic
Kentucky Derby
By SPENCER RIPCHIK
Associated Press
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) --- Cherie DeVaux knows Saratoga well. She was born
in the upstate New York town, and after growing up in Florida, she returned to
study at the University of Albany, just a 30-minute drive away.
After two years, DeVaux stopped pursuing a degree and took a chance on her
passion for horse racing, where she started as a hot walker for late trainer
Chuck Simon. She set her sights on one day being an exercise rider.
On Saturday, DeVaux won't be crossing Union Avenue as a hot walker, or riding
and working them out on the Oklahoma Training Track. Five weeks after becoming
the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, she'll watch Golden Tempo run
in the 158th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course to close out the Triple
Crown.
"It's an amazing opportunity to get to spend with my family in the build-up and
the week of," DeVaux said. "Getting to spend time with my family, the young
ones that don't get to come to the races --- my nieces and nephews --- so I'm
really looking forward to the opportunity to share what I do with them."
DeVaux's Derby celebration went viral as she celebrated with her family. But
she was more excited about the victory than the history.
"I just see myself as a horse trainer," DeVaux said. "I thought winning the
Kentucky Derby was an achievable goal at some point in my career. It's an honor
to be the one that is the first female. But that's not really what my focus is
on."
DeVaux could become the second female trainer to win the Belmont in four years,
following Jena Antonucci with Arcangelo in 2023.
Janet Elliot, the only woman to be inducted into the National Horse Racing Hall
of Fame as a trainer for her success in steeplechase, watched the Derby and was
excited for DeVaux but shared the same sentiment.
"I'm just a trainer," Elliot said. "I didn't feel like I was a woman in a man's
sport. I'm just doing my job, and that's how I came about it."
After DeVaux worked for Simon, she transferred to work with Chad Brown as an
assistant trainer. She said that time gave her valuable experience working with
top-level horses.
DeVaux opened her own stable in 2018 based in Lexington, Kentucky, and has won
some big races with horses like She Feels Pretty and Vahva. But, nothing beat
the feeling of the Derby, when Golden Tempo made a surge from the back of the
pack to win as a 23-1 long shot.
Even though she is based in Kentucky and grew up in southwest Florida, Saratoga
locals have shown a lot of support for DeVaux because of her ties to the area.
"Having a local connection always just amps up everything around here and the
interest level," Saratoga Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus said.
"Cherie, this year, is the rock star coming back to Saratoga, where she's got
family and friends and a community that has totally embraced the historic
success she's had, especially this year."
The Belmont taking place at Saratoga for the third and final time before
returning to Belmont Park next year gives DeVaux a chance to celebrate in the
winner's circle at the place she started her career.
"It's a beautiful track," DeVaux said. "It's all about horse racing. The whole
town, that is their highlight and focus. It's really exciting to be a part of
that."
___
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
|
