LOUISVILLE, Ky - The 147th Kentucky Derby was barely 10 minutes old and Brad Cox, whose runners Mandaloun and Essential Quality finished second and fourth, respectively, in what was the trainer’s first appearance in the race, was already looking forward to next year.
“Can’t wait to be back here,” Cox said. “We’ll be back, too. Promise.”
Once again the Red Sea parted. ROCK YOUR WORLD got crushed at the start. MIDNIGHT BOURBON wasn’t sent, despite intimations he would. Once again the trainer in North American racing who best understands how to use speed as a weapon, and how to train to win the Kentucky Derby – not to merely participate in the Derby – won America’s biggest race, using tactics that were a carbon copy of what happened last time this race was run, eight months ago.
Finish Horse Margin
1st Medina Spirit 1/2
2nd Mandaloun 1/2
3rd Hot Rod Charlie Head
4th Essential Quality 4 1/2
5th O Besos 2 3/4
6th Midnight Bourbon Neck
7th Keepmeinmind 2
8th Helium Neck
9th Known Agenda Nose
10th Highly Motivated 1 3/4
11th Sainthood Head
12th Like The King 3 1/4
13th Bourbonic 3/4
14th Hidden Stash 1 1/2
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – All the figuring and agonizing that go into pre-race analyses of the Kentucky Derby were rendered useless Saturday at Churchill Downs when Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert once again proved the overriding factor.
Baffert won the coveted roses for a record seventh time when Medina Spirit, his lone starter in a field of 19 3-year-olds, led throughout in the 1 1/4-mile race under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, turning back a sustained stretch bid from Mandaloun to win a dramatic 147th running of the Derby by a half-length.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, - Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale has set his plan in motion, and the early Kentucky Derby odds are reflecting it.
McIngvale is running a promotion at his popular buiness, Gallery Furniture, that will repay customers who purchase a mattress set for $3,000 or more if the Kentucky Derby favorite wins. The expected favorite all along has been Essential Quality, and with McIngvale hedging his promotion by betting several million to win on him, Essential Quality’s position of Derby favorite is assured.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - King Fury will be scratched from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby after spiking a fever, trainer Ken McPeek said on Friday afternoon.
King Fury, winner of the Lexington Stakes on April 10, was 20-1 on the morning line for the Derby. The colt galloped 1 1/2 miles early Friday morning, but later, did not clean up his feed and was found to have a high temperature and an elevated white cell count.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – How do you deal with the nerves of your first Kentucky Derby? The answer for this year’s class: stay busy.
“Every day is day by day,” said Vicki Oliver, putting her head down to do the work of saddling horses on a weekday afternoon at Keeneland just hours after sending out Hidden Stash for his final Derby breeze.
There are five trainers and four jockeys contesting their first Derby this year. Brad Cox is especially busy in his debut, saddling favored Essential Quality as well as Mandaloun.
World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury will attend Saturday's Kentucky Derby to watch his namesake, King Fury, run for the roses.
Trainer Ken McPeek named the colt, who races for Fern Circle Stables, Three Chimneys Farm, and Magdalena Racing, in honor of the boxer. He tweeted at Fury this week inviting him to attend the Derby as a guest of the connections. Plans were quickly made for Fury, who is training in Las Vegas, to fly in on Saturday morning.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Dirt bits tracked in from the shed row, scattered strands of straw bedding, a small pool of water moating a table leg – decorative touches laid out in the Churchill Downs barn office of trainer Brad Cox after a morning of Derby Week training had ended and before anyone went through the room with a broom.
Churchill is Cox’s home base. Some trainers at the top of Thoroughbred racing sport barn offices fit for a king. The man who would be king of this sport has neither time nor need for such appurtenances.
