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And so, with a bang, and not a whimper, the 136-year Kentucky Derby run against horses who were unraced at 2 was obliterated Saturday by Justify, as deserving a Derby winner as one could ever hope to see.
When Bob Baffert realized Justify was something special after his debut race, the Hall of Fame trainer didn’t hesitate in seeking a more experienced rider for what he had planned for the freakishly talented 3-year-old colt. He called on Mike Smith.
Chad Brown said there was a point in the stretch on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs that he thought Good Magic had “a really, really good chance” to give him his first Kentucky Derby victory. Unfortunately, on this particular day, Good Magic ran into what Brown called a “super horse” in the undefeated Justify and ultimately had to settle for second money after outlasting Audible by a nose for the minor award in the 2018 Derby.
Justify, in a brilliant performance, set a wicked pace, disposed of an early pace challenger, then more serious bids from Bolt d’Oro and then the champion colt Good Magic, and prevailed in the 144th Kentucky Derby, giving trainer Bob Baffert his fifth Derby, second best all-time.
Peck: Evaluating value in the 2018 Kentucky Derby
Matt Bernier analyzes the potential pace setup in the 2018 Kentucky Derby.
McCraken will be one of three graduates of the 2017 Kentucky Derby to run in allowance races at Churchill Downs on Saturday when he competes in a multi-conditioned one-mile allowance.
Mendelssohn was the horse everyone was waiting to see here Thursday following his release from quarantine the previous afternoon.
Quantifying a race as the “best ever” or “best in years” is largely a matter of subjective opinion, but there are cold, hard facts that make the 144th Kentucky Derby on Saturday here at Churchill Downs deserving of its prerace huzzahs.
