Kentucky Derby Win Is First for Female Trainer, Second for Panthers Owner Viola

Golden Tempo’s rally to win in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby came as an impressive—even miraculous—feat. But the victory is just one of many for its owner, Vincent Viola, who has built a winning portfolio across many sports.

In addition to owning Golden Tempo—in partnership with Phipps Stable, which is run by Daisy Phipps Pulito—Viola is also the owner of the Florida Panthers, which captured the Stanley Cup in both 2024 and 2025. 

Viola first got into horse racing in the 1990s, but had to put his push into the sport on hold to go into broader sports ownership. In 2004, he was part of Bruce Ratner’s group to buy the New Jersey Nets for $300 million, which required him to divest himself of his horse racing interests. 

The New York native sold his stake in the Nets in 2010 as part of Mikhail Prokhorov’s purchase of the team for $223 million. Two years later, he re-entered the horse racing space. Viola currently is the owner of St. Elias Stable, and his wife owns Teresa Viola Racing. 

Viola moved further into sports ownership in 2013, when he bought the Panthers for $250 million. The NHL allowed him to keep his horse racing properties, while owning the team, and he has done both ever since. 

In 2016, Viola was nominated to be Donald Trump’s secretary of the Army in his first Cabinet, but withdrew from consideration after he was unable to divest his sports portfolio. 

Saturday’s win with Golden Tempo marks the Violas’ second Kentucky Derby victory. In 2017, the couple won their first Derby when Always Dreaming edged out Lookin At Lee. Two years later, they had another horse win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in Vino Rosso. 

Golden Tempo’s Historic Win 

Golden Tempo’s incredible rally wasn’t only a victory for the Violas: It also put its trainer in the history books. 

Saturday, Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. She joined Jena Antonucci as the only women to train the winner of a Triple Crown race. Antonucci trained Arcangelo, the winner of the 2023 Belmont Stakes. 

DeVaux was just the 18th woman to train a horse in the Kentucky Derby’s 152-year history. Prior to Saturday, the best finish a horse had under a female trainer was Casual Lies, who finished runner-up in the 1992 Derby and was trained by Shelley Riley.  

Leading up to the race, DeVaux was asked about the possibility of being the first woman to train a Derby winner, but kept the media attention on the horse and race. While speaking with reporters after Saturday’s win, she credited her nine siblings for her toughness to stay in the industry despite the lack 

“I didn’t believe,” DeVaux said. “I started my career here 22 years ago as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed exercise rider. And I would not believe that I would be sitting up here today. Never in my life did I think I would.”