Almost a quarter-century ago, Bob Baffert began his run into the Kentucky Derby record book with a modestly priced Florida-bred. The Hall of Fame trainer recorded his record seventh Derby victory with another one.
Medina Spirit, a $1,000 yearling who was later purchased for $35,000 on behalf of Amr Zedan as a juvenile, became the seventh Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby. Baffert’s seventh Derby win allowed him to break a tie for most wins in the race with the legendary Ben Jones.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Expectations were lower this year, but the exhilaration was just as high as in previous years for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who captured his record-setting seventh Kentucky Derby victory Saturday with 12-1 shot Medina Spirit.
Baffert's win broke a tie with Ben Jones for most Derby victories, but - unlike many past ones, including 2018 with Justify and 2015 with American Pharoah - this one was more unexpected, Baffert said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - John Velazquez will turn 50 later this year, considered old by jockey standards. But the Hall of Fame rider showed age is only a number after completing a sweep of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby with his wire-to-wire victory aboard Medina Spirit for trainer Bob Baffert in Saturday’s Run for the Roses.
Total handle on the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville was down 3.7 percent when compared to the total amount bet on the 2019 edition of the race, the last time the race was held on the first Saturday in May, according to charts of the races.
Total handle on Saturday’s Derby race, which was held under coronavirus restrictions that limited attendance to roughly one-third of capacity, was $153.66 million, compared to the record $159.61 million bet on the race in 2019, according to the charts. Both races had 19 horses.
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.
