The Brad Cox-trained Further Ado assumed favouritism in a wide-open edition of the Kentucky Derby. A Grade 1 winner at Churchill Downs in his two-year-old season, he warmed up for this with an 11-length romp in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. With three-time Kentucky Derby winner John Velazquez in the saddle, the son of Gun Runner looked primed to go well.
Last successful with Always Dreaming in 2017, Texan handler Todd Pletcher sought a third Kentucky Derby triumph with Renegade. Kicking off his season with a Listed win at Tampa Bay, he booked his Kentucky Derby ticket with an impressive success in the Arkansas Derby.
Mark Glatt’s So Happy was another proving popular with punters following his career best win in the Santa Anita Derby. Also among the favourites was the Brad Cox-trained Florida Derby winner, Commandment, who sported the Wathnan Racing silks.
A pair of Japanese runners added a dash of international flavour. Having achieved a landmark victory with Forever Young in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Land of the Rising Sun sent Wonder Dean and Danon Bourbon into battle in America’s most famous race.
It looked like a compelling race on paper, and turned out to produce a truly historic result.
Result
- 1st – Golden Tempo 231/10, Jockey: Jose L Ortiz, Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
- 2nd – Renegade 56/10, Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr, Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- 3rd – Ocelli 71/1, Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione, Trainer: D Whitworth Beckman
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £2,296,296.30
- 2nd – £740,740.74
- 3rd – £370,370.37
- 4th – £185,185.19
- 5th – £111,111.11
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- US Win ($2) – $48.24
- US Show ($2) – 1st – $11.90, 2nd – $5.46. 3rd – $36.34
- Exacta ($2) – $278.86
- Trifecta ($1) – $11,250.78
Recap
A frenetic dash for the lead saw the well-fancied Renegade and outsider Albus come off worst, with the pair immediately losing ground. Wonder Dean, Six Speed, Danon Bourbon, and So Happy fared best to take up the running into the first bend. Golden Tempo avoided the early trouble by missing the break but found himself a dozen lengths behind the leaders by the end of the first furlong.
Moving into the back stretch, Six Speed had won the battle to set the pace, with Danon Bourbon and So Happy hot on his heels. Wonder Dean, Emerging Market, and Pavlovian made up the next wave of three. Golden Tempo was now detached by four lengths at the rear of the field and around 20 lengths adrift of the leader.
As the field swept into the home turn, Six Speed continued to hold the lead, but the field was beginning to bunch up. The only two runners who looked out of contention at this stage were Albus and Golden Tempo.
Six Speed’s exertions began to tell as the runners moved into the straight, as Danon Bourbon and So Happy moved into a battle for the lead. However, a whole host of runners were beginning to charge from further back. Included in that number was Golden Tempo, who had begun to scythe through the field but still sat only 13th.
Everything changed in the final 100 yards. Having opened up a two-length advantage, Danon Bourbon was overhauled by Ocelli, who hit the front with the winning post looming. There was still time for more drama, as Renegade moved past in the dying strides, only to be overhauled by the incredible, improbable, last-to-first surge of Golden Tempo down the outside. A neck was the winning margin at the line, with Ocelli three-quarters of a length back in third.
It was a vintage renewal of the great race and one laden with storylines. In getting up in the shadow of the post, Jose L Ortiz won the race for the first time, while relegating his brother Irad Ortiz Jr to second. However, the headlines belonged to Cherie DeVaux, who became the first woman to train the Kentucky Derby winner in the 152-year history of the race.
Runners
- 1. Renegade – SP: 56/10, Trainer: Todd Pletcher, Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
- 2. Albus – SP: 49/1, Trainer: Riley Mott, Jockey: Manuel Franco
- 3. Intrepido – SP: 53/1, Trainer: Jeff Mullins, Jockey: Hector I Berrios
- 4. Litmus Test – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Bob Baffert, Jockey: Martin Garcia
- 5. Right to Party – Non-runner
- 6. Commandment – SP: 31/5, Trainer: Brad H Cox, Jockey: Luis Saez
- 7. Danon Bourbon – SP: 127/10, Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe, Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura
- 8. So Happy – SP: 59/10, Trainer: Mark Glatt, Jockey: Mike E Smith
- 9. The Puma – Non-runner
- 10. Wonder Dean – SP: 269/10, Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi, Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
- 11. Incredibolt – SP: 237/10, Trainer: Riley Mott, Jockey: Jaime A Torres
- 12. Chief Wallabee – SP: 73/10, Trainer: William Mott, Jockey: Junior Alvarado
- 13. Silent Tactic – Non-runner
- 14. Potente – SP: 179/10, Trainer: Bob Baffert, Jockey: Juan J Hernandez
- 15. Emerging Market – SP: 44/5, Trainer: Chad C Brown, Jockey: Flavian Prat
- 16. Pavlovian – SP: 51/1, Trainer: Doug O’Neill, Jockey: Edwin A Maldonado
- 17. Six Speed – SP: 39/1, Trainer: Bhupat Seemar, Jockey: Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr
- 18. Further Ado – SP: 51/10F, Trainer: Brad H Cox, Jockey: John R Velazquez
- 19. Golden Tempo – SP: 231/10, Trainer: Cherie DeVaux, Jockey: Jose L Ortiz
- 20. Fulleffort – Non-runner
- 21. Great White – Non-runner
- 22. Ocelli – SP: 71/1, Trainer: D Whitworth Beckman, Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
- 23. Robusta – SP: 70/1, Trainer: Doug O’Neill, Jockey: Cristian A Torres
Non-Runners
Right To Party (lame), The Puma (swollen leg), Silent Tactic (bruised foot), Fulleffort (bone chip), Great White (reared before start).