New York Yankees Direct Connection To Golden Tempo's Kentucky Derby Win

With 23-1 odds by time the gates opened, no one classified Golden Tempo as a front runner in the 152nd Kentucky Derby. The Thoroughbred came into Churchhill Downs with a 2-0-2 record and with a win at the Lecomte Stakes earlier this year.

Golden Tempo started slow and was at one point over 15 lengths behind the leader, riding in dead-last for the majority of the race. Coming down the final stretch of the mile-and-a-quarter track, Golden Tempo, who was in 13th at the time, would end up coming down on the outside to win.

Many are already calling the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby as one of the most thrilling in history. Golden Tempo may not have had the biggest odd-deficit, but coming from dead-last to a late charge to the front and eventually winning over the favorite is something that may never be seen in that capacity again.

Golden Tempo jockey Jose Ortiz is no stranger to winning. Ortiz has claimed victory over 3,000 times dating back to 2012. The Derby is his latest Triple Crown win, which is part of a resume that already includes a Belmont Stakes win in 2017 and Preakness Stakes win in 2022. Ortiz also won the Kentucky Oaks prior to the Derby on Friday, jockeying Always A Runner, and overall pulling off a rare double.

“To get the double is very hard," Ortiz said on the broadcast after. He added that the other jockeys "were joking inside the room today that 10 guys had done it, it’s not impossible. I’m just very happy.”

What may have been something even more special than winning it all is that Ortiz got to race the Kentucky Derby alongside his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr.

Irad Ortiz Jr., was the jockey of the betting favorite Renegade, who came in with 4-1 odds. The brothers would finish 1-2.

"I want him to win the Derby, of course," Jose said on the broadcast after. "I know it's his dream as well. But it happened that way. I think he should be happy. His horse ran a very good race. He's a very nice horse."

But, he added, "Today's my day and Golden Tempo's day."

Both Jose and Irad are cousins with New York Yankees pitcher Elmer Rodriguez. Rodriguez recently made his major league debut last week and overall is ranked as a top prospect in New York's organization.

Rodriguez told YES' Meredith Marakovits that he was more nervous for the race than he was for his debut. He added that he was so proud of them he started crying after seeing them come in first and second.

Elmer Rodriguez started and won a game for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year. During his debut with the Yankees last week against the Texas Rangers, Rodriguez struck out three in 4.0 innings. Overall, the 22-year-old holds New York's fifth spot in the starting rotation.