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Jockey Manny Franco celebrates aboard Spirit of St Louis after winning the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1). | |
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Kentucky Derby Day is the biggest card of racing at Churchill Downs. Before the main event, there were 8 stakes races (7 graded) contested over the main track and Matt Winn turf course on Saturday. Conditions were very wet on Saturday for the 147,406 fans in attendance, with rain falling early in the card downgrading the main track to sloppy and the turf to "good" with temperatures in the low 60's.
Wagering from all sources on the Kentucky Derby Day program set a new record of $349.0 million, beating last year’s record of $320.5 million. TwinSpires, the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby, handled a new record of $108.0 million in wagering on Churchill Downs races for the Kentucky Derby Day program, compared to last year’s record of $92.1 million, including all settled future wagers and affiliate wagering. The 151st Kentucky Derby follows an all-time record 150th Kentucky Derby last year. The Company expects Adjusted EBITDA for Derby Week to be one of the top two results in the company’s history, albeit $2 to $4 million lower than last year’s marquee 150th running of the Kentucky Derby."
13-1 Mercante was quickest away through an opening quarter in 23.97 before 21-1 Gigante took over through a half in 47.99 and 3/4 in 1:12.13 pressed by Mercante and stalked by 8-1 Taking Candy and 9-1 Redistricting. Into the stretch Gigante tired allowing Mercante to lead through 1 mile in 1:36.23 but favorite Spirit of St Louis, last early, came out 8 wide and rallied to win by 3/4 length in 1:48.20. It was a neck back to 14-1 Highway Robber third.
Results chart from DRF
Left: Spirit of St Louis heads to the winner's circle. Winning owner Sol Kumin said, "Spirit of St Louis actually ran a fast number (speed figure) at New Orleans; he just had a wide trip the whole way. It's tough to win out there. But (jockey Manny Franco) did a good job today from a tough post; saving just a little ground early, giving him a great trip, and putting him in position. Then he showed that great turn of foot."
Right: Down the stretch with Spirit of St Louis rallying on the far outside. Winning trainer Chad Brown said, "He was standing flat-footed and he didn't break all that well. But Manny (Franco) did a good job of saving ground with him in the first turn and then got him running late. I was confident today with this horse because he does real well on soft turf. I've been following his numbers and he is getting better and better. But he has surprised me with how far he can run."
Jockey Junior Alvarado sent 10-1 Serene Seraph to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.56 and 48.11 while pressed by Tax Implications and stalked by Movin' On Up and 12-1 Pin Up Betty. Turning for home the pacesetters tired as Pin Up Betty inherited the lead through 7f in 1:23.80 but 15-1 Simply in Front, 7th early under Luis Saez, came out 4 wide and rallied to win by a neck in 1:35.46. It was 3/4 length back to favorite Movin' On Up third.
Results chart from DRF
Left: Simply in Front heads to the winner's circle. Winning jockey Luis Saez said, "She broke the way we expected. She was traveling nicely. When we ran at Kentucky Downs, the trip was similar to today. There were some good horses in that race. When she made her move at the top of the lane, I could tell I had a lot of horse left."
Right: Down the stretch with Simply in Front on the outside. Winning trainer Eddie Kenneally said, "My new rider (Luis Saez), I didn't have to give him any special instructions. He's just in a zone and this filly of mine, this is her first start of the year and I think she jumped into the zone too."
Jocker Javier Castellano sent 14-1 Macho Music to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 22.43, 44.93, and 1:09.66 while pressed by Madaket Road and stalked by Gaming. Turning for home Macho Music opened up a 2 length lead through 7f in 1:22.27 and drew off late to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Madaket Road in 1:35.65. It was a neck back to Gaming third.
Results chart from DRF
Left: Macho Music heads to the winner's circle. Winning jockey Javier Castellano said, "He's a very fast horse and he's very competitive. His last race down at Tampa when he stretched out in distance gave me a lot of confidence he'd be able to handle the step up in class today."
Right: Macho Music returns after the race. Winning trainer Rohan Crichton said, "I think the track helped him and he is really a quick horse. He's quick and he's able to stretch his speed which we were a little worried about. In his last race at Tampa, he really relaxed and kicked, which is what gave us the confidence. And he's been getting better, a lot more relaxed. He wouldn't saddle as good as he did today. He's been really improving mentally. Javier did a fantastic job. First of all, he got him to rate nicely and then finished up really well. The next race might be the Woody Stephens (at Saratoga)."
 Think Big wins the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) |
Jockey Manny Franco sent 19-2 Coppola to the lead through fractions of 22.86 and 44.86 while pressed by 17-2 Boss Sully and stalked by Run Carson. Turning for home Coppola tired allowing Boss Sully to take over through 5f in 56.29. Favorite Think Big, 4th early under Ben Curtis, came out 3 wide and rallied to win by 3/4 length in 1:02.35. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to 14-1 Unconquerably Keen third.
Results chart from DRF
Left: Think Big heads to the winner's circle. Winning jockey Ben Curtis said, "He doesn't have a certain style. He came from last at Fair Grounds and mid-pack at Keeneland. Before that, he was very forward. I found a lovely spot where he was into the race. He's a fast stayer at this distance. The further we went down the straight, I thought we'd get him. It took me a little longer to get him than I thought but he got there."
Right: Think Big returns after the race. Winning trainer Mike Stidham said, "No special instructions to the rider; he's ridden him before and knows him well. At the sixteenth pole, I didn't think we were going to make it. I said ‘aw heck, we're gonna be second.' But then he dug in like a champ and got it done. Every once in a while something goes right."
 Zulu Kingdom wins the American Turf (G2) |
Jockey Jose Ortiz sent 15-1 Mi Bago to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.57, 47.76, and 1:11.97 while pressed by 39-1 Golden Afternoon and stalked by 40-1 Warlander. Into the stretch Mi Bago continued to lead through 1 mile in 1:35.58 but favorite Zulu Kingdom, 4th early under Flavien Prat, came out 6 wide and outfinished 6-1 fourth choice Test Score to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:41.64. It was a nose back to deep closing New Century third.
Zulu Kingdom returns after the race. Winning owner Sol Kumin said, "We loved him in (the Breeders' Cup) and, unfortunately, he didn't get a great trip and didn't run his best race. That was tough. You never know what happens when they go from 2 to 3. He's grown, he's gotten bigger and filled out. Chad does a great job keeping these horses good. Hopefully he'll stay sound and we'll get to run some big races this year."
Jockey Edgard Zayas sent 18-1 Mystic Lake to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 22.30 and 45.19 while pressed by 8-1 Hope Road and stalked by Vahva. Into the lane Mystic Lake tired allowing Hope Road to lead through 3/4 in 1:09.25. Kopion, 6th early under Kazushi Kimura, came out 5 wide and rallied by to win by 3 lengths over Hope Road in 1:21.76. It was another 3/4 length back to favorite Ways and Means third.
Results chart from DRF
Left: Kopion heads to the winner's circle. Winning jockey Kazushi Kimura said, "She's been training beautifully in the morning and the question was just how she'd handle it here in Kentucky. She loved this track and is such a special filly."
Right: Kopion returns after the race. Winning trainer Richard Mandella said, "I had no concern at all (about the sloppy track). You know, being down in the post two, you're worried about her getting buried. She did get off a little bit slower than I thought she would. But the jock had a lot of confidence in her and he rode her that way. And the more we go, the smarter she gets. She's starting to make it look like I know something. How much better can she get? Well, I hope there's upside, but I don't know where you get it. She's done a lot already. But it's nice to see her handle so smart and confident. We think she can get two turns, but I don't know if I want to fool with it until after the Breeders' Cup. I don't want to break it if it ain't broke."
28-1 Best Actor and 10-1 Inveigled dueled out of the chute through fractions of 22.42 and 45.20 while stalked by 17-2 fourth choice New King and Kupuna. On the far turn Best Actor tired as New King gained a short lead through 3/4 in 1:10.04 before also tiring. Patriot Spirit, 6th early, came out 4 wide to lead midstretch throug 7f in 1:22.57 but Liberal Arts, 8th early under Luis Saez, came out 5 wide and rallied to win by 3/4 length in 1:35.25. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Kupuna third.
Results chart from DRF
Winning jockey Luis Saez said, "He put me in a good spot early. He handled the track pretty well today. He has been an impressive horse leading into this race and he proved it today." Winning trainer Brad Cox said, "It's very special to win a race named after such a great race horse as Knicks Go. This horse is pretty tough to train and very aggressive but when he is working well in mornings, we know he is going to run his best effort. He did that coming into this race and the trip played out exactly like we thought it would."
Jockey Manny Franco sent 18-1 Giant Mischief to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 22.56 and 45.12 while pressed by 23-1 Hoist the Gold and stalked by 8-1 Mullikin. Into the stretch Giant Mischief tired allowing Mullikin to inherit the lead through 3/4 in 1:09.67 before also tiring. Mindframe, 7th early under Irad Ortiz Jr., came out 7 wide to win by a neck over late-running 13-2 Banishing and favorite Nysos who dead-heated for place.
Results chart from DRF
Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said, "My horse was so game today. He had so many horses to the inside of him that he just had to keep fighting the entire way to the wire. He does not want to lose and kept finding more the more challenges he got." Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "I told Irad just to ride with confidence and it looks like he did exactly that. He's such a versatile horse. From just missing last year in the Belmont and now winning a Grade 1 going seven-eighths. It just shows how special of a horse he is."
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