Golden Tempo jockey Jose Ortiz beats out brother to win first Kentucky Derby

Golden Tempo jockey Jose Ortiz beats out brother to win first Kentucky Derby originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 152nd Kentucky Derby was full of history, including a special moment for jockey Jose Ortiz.

The 32 year-old helped lead a magnificent race as Golden Tempo went from last to first to take the Run for the Roses. Ortiz helped Cherie DeVaux become the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, but Ortiz made jockey history himself in the process.

Golden Tempo barely beat out Renegade, the favorite whose jockey knows Jose Ortiz quite well. Here's a breakdown of the meaning of Ortiz's victory.

MORE:Full results from 2026 Kentucky Derby

Golden Tempo jockey

Jose Ortiz rode Golden Tempo to the Kentucky Derby victory, coming from behind for the victory. It marked Ortiz's first Derby win after 10 previous rides at the event.

FROM LAST PLACE TO KENTUCKY DERBY GLORY, WHAT A RACE FOR GOLDEN TEMPO! 🐎

📺 The 152nd Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yUIczKx4SX— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 2, 2026

Golden Tempo was not the favorite, as Renegade entered the race with the best odds to win. Renegade ended up finishing in second place, as his jockey was Ortiz's older brother Irad who hasn't won a Kentucky Derby himself.

On Friday, Ortiz won the Kentucky Oaks as well with Always a Runner, which means he now becomes the ninth jockey to pull off the Kentucky double.

Jose Ortiz wins the 152nd Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, only the 9th jockey to complete the feat. pic.twitter.com/7iHjA6l8A0— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 2, 2026

MORE:How Golden Tempo trainer Cherie DeVaux made history at Kentucky Derby

Jose Ortiz brother

Ortiz's brother is Irad Ortiz, who was the jockey on Derby favorite Renegade. The brothers battled it out in the final seconds, as Golden Tempo and Renegade finished first and second in the finish.

Brothers Jose and Irad Ortiz finished first and second in the Kentucky Derby 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZNkyXS11pI— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 2, 2026

The brothers are separated by a year, as Jose is the younger of the two. Before Jose won the Kentucky Derby this year, the brothers were a combined 0-19 in this race. 

Jockeying is in the Ortiz family, as the brothers' grandfather and uncle both rode horses.

Where is Jose Ortiz from?

Ortiz was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where he remained before moving to New York in 2012 at the age of 19. He becomes the latest Puerto Rican jockey to take home a victory at Churchill Downs.

How old is Jose Ortiz?

Ortiz is 32 years old but has been riding horses for his entire life. Jose's brother, Irad, is 33 years old.