LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Three times before for owner Ahmed Zayat, his Kentucky Derby dream ended in the long homestretch at Churchill Downs. On Saturday, he didn’t awaken until he got to the finish line.
Second in three previous Derbies, all since 2009, Zayat finally got a chance to experience what he had dreamt about, as American Pharoah lived up to his favoritism by capturing the 141st Derby before a record crowd of 170,513 on a warm, sunny day beneath the storied twin spires.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The horses for the 141st Kentucky Derby had left the paddock and were on their way to the track. Bob Baffert stayed behind and walked around, a bundle of nervous energy. The song “My Old Kentucky Home” came over the loudspeaker.
“I hear this song, I think, ‘It’s almost over,’ ” Baffert said. “My job is done.”
He was asked, after three Kentucky Derby victories and all he’s accomplished in the sport, if he still gets nervous for a big race.
The following is the complete order of finish for the 141st Kentucky Derby:
1. American Pharoah
2. Firing Line
3. Dortmund
4. Frosted
5. Danzig Moon
6. Materiality
7. Keen Ice
8. Mubtaahij
9. Itsaknockout
10. Carpe Diem
11. Frammento
12. Bolo
13. Mr. Z
14. Ocho Ocho Ocho
15. Far Right
16. War Story
17. Tencendur
18. Upstart
The following is a list of DRF Plus resources and content related to Saturday’s Kentucky Derby card at Churchill Downs.
DRF Live! featuring video coverage and real-time analysis
Kentucky Derby previews
American Pharoah, Dortmund give Baffert potent one-two punch in Derby (DRF Plus)
Watch DRF Live! for all-day video coverage of the Kentucky Derby card here.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – International Star has been scratched from the 141st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, it was announced shortly after 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Saturday. His defection leaves a field of 18.
Chief steward Barbara Borden said the scratch for International Star was submitted by trainer Mike Maker and the colt was not scratched by a state veterinarian. Maker said the colt began showing soreness in his left front foot about 9 a.m. and that withdrawing the colt was the prudent move. Maker said the injury is not serious and “we’ll live to fight another day.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wake up. Shake off the fatigue. The day that drives the Thoroughbred industry is dawning.
“I think you have to dream,” assistant trainer Norman Casse said. “I’m not exaggerating – I think about it at least once a day every day. The Kentucky Derby’s why I do it. I think everyone should have something like that to drive them, and the Derby’s what drives me.”
Casse is an assistant to his father, Mark, who later today will saddle the strong-willed Danzig Moon for the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby. By all accounts, this year’s field is a dream lineup.
Hard to resist any sequence landing on the Kentucky Derby, isn’t it? And at a 50-cent base bet, the pick five encompassing races 7 to 11 and landing on the Derby seems – before it unfolds, at least – fairly manageable for a player on a budget.
Let’s go race by race.
Handicappers Matt Bernier and Kenny Peck are going head to head with $500 to wager on the Kentucky Derby Day card at Churchill Downs.
I had nothing good to report on my front Friday - and the worst part was I hardly had a horse fire. With the exception of Buster Rose, all of my horses fizzled in a major way.
Not to worry, though! The main event is tomorrow, and we'll come back swinging.
