I’ll Have Another upsets Bodemeister in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on 5th May
The 165,307 crowd at Churchill Downs on 5th May was taken by surprise when the 138th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby over 1 ¼ miles got swept away by one of the least celebrated entries for the grandeur.
The attention of everyone revolved around the favourites Union Rags and the popular sprinter Trinniberg. It was Gemologist who got hold of the lead the earliest but could not keep up with it for long as Bodemeister was quick to yank away the lead that he continued till the final furlong of the race.
Heading on with the flashing speed he did not even leave much provision for the top class sprinter, Trinniberg. The leading first five comprised of Bodemeister, Trinniberg, Daddy Long Legs, Hansen and Gemologist.
Sixth in lead was Take Charge Indy and inching his way to victory was I’ll Have Another trailing close behind in the seventh position.
Bodemeister led the first half-mile in :45.39 seconds. He managed six furlongs in a minute and :09.80 seconds, joining the league of the three fastest Derby contenders over the distance mentioned. Into the final furlong he led by three lengths and had taken a minute and :35.19 seconds by then.
"He was doing it easily; he was within himself," said Bob Baffert, trainer of 4-1 favorite Bodemeister. "That's the way he wanted to run. I told Mike (jockey Smith), 'Look, if he breaks great and feels like running, we can win it."
Trinniberg and Bodemeister remained to be the leading pair for more than half way through the race. However when turning for home, the solo lead of Bodemeister became more prevalent as Trinniberg got clustered into the lot following right behind.
The final furlong was a battle of a life time chance among Bodemeister, Hansen, Trinniberg, I’ll Have Another and Dullahan.
By now Creative Cause was trying from the outside and was being counted among those who were reeling in for the wire by almost negligible distance. Despite many some struggling for the wire I’ll Have Another took the lead from Bodemeister and deprived Dullahan of any chances of completing the trip before him.
I’ll Have Another finished the race in two minutes and :01.83 seconds while leading by one and a half lengths, bestowing trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez of their very first Derby success. His prize money amounted to $1,459,600.
"He'll stay at Churchill Downs," O'Neill added. "He likes this track. That's the game plan as long as he comes out good - stay at Churchill then head to Pimlico."
His next big race, the Preakness awaits at Pimlico on 19th May.
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