By Mark Hansel
NkyTribune managing editor
Justify did not disappoint as the favorite in the 144th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, sloshing through the slop to score an impressive win in the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Jockey Mike Smith raises his arms to the heavens as he guides Justify to the Winner’s Circle following his victory in the 144th Kentucky Derby (photos by Mark Hansel).
Justify gave jockey Mike Smith his second Derby victory and trainer Bob Baffert his fifth win in the Run for the Roses.
“I have been blessed to be in this race so many times; I have run second, I think, four other times as well,” Smith said. “I just needed to stay cool and calm and get him out of the gate and get him in the right spot, get him in a good rhythm. I knew he was capable of doing this.”
Despite Justify not running as a 2-year-old, Baffert realized he had a special horse on his hands and switched to Hall of Famer Smith after just one race.
Drayden Van Dyke rode Justify to a nine-length maiden win at Santa Anita in February before Baffert handed the reins to Smith.
“Drayden Van Dyke did a great job with him, but I knew there was going to be a lot of pressure,” Baffert said. “I just thought Mike Smith and (part owner) China Horse Club, we had that history with one of the most exciting wins last year, winning the Kentucky Oaks with our favorite filly, Abel Tasman. All a trainer can do is go by instinct and gut feeling, so I thought that was the move.”
The gut feeling proved to be the right move as Justify won an allowance race before besting Bolt D’oro by three lengths in the Santa Anita Derby in April with Smith aboard.
The connections of Justify discuss the colt’s impressive victory in Saturday’s Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.
Justify’s Derby win was so impressive, he has many fans dreaming of even greater glory as the road to the Triple Crown continues in Maryland with the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in two weeks.
Sent off at odds of 5-2 and undefeated in three previous starts, Justify bolted from the gate and tracked pacesetter Promises Fulfilled closely through blistering early fraction of 22.44; 45.77 and 1:11.01.
“Going in, my main concern was really just getting him out of the gate,” Smith said. “I knew if I can get him out there and get him in a big rhythm, he can go fast. That’s how good he is, he can go at 45 and still finish like he did.”
The swift fractions, more suited for a sprint race than the 1 ¼ mile Derby distance, had many in the crowd concerned that Justify might come up empty in the stretch.
“Although I knew we were running along pretty good, Bolt D’oro was to my outside about the wire (for the first time) and pushed me along a little bit,” Smith said. “I looked underneath my arms a couple of times and the rest of them were right behind me. I figured if I was going fast, they were going fast with me.”
As the horses neared the half-mile pole, Smith sent his charge to the lead and dispatched the pacesetter.
Fans at the Kentucky Derby spent much of the day under cover as more than two-inches of rain fell on Churchill Downs Saturday. Despite the wet conditions, the crowd of 157,813 was the eighth-largest in Derby history.
At that point a stalking Good Magic, the 2-year-old champion and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, ranged up outside and it appeared for a moment that the swift pace might be Justify’s undoing.
The son of Scat Daddy, out of the Ghostzapper mare Stage Magic, had plenty left for the stretch, however, put away Good Magic and drew off to a 2 ¼-length victory.
“When I called on him, heading for home, once he switched over to his right lead, he dug back in,” Smith said. “He could have gone around again. He wasn’t going to let them by.”
Jockey Jose Ortiz, aboard Good Magic said he had his horse well-placed, but couldn’t get to the winner.
“I really thought I was going to get there,” Ortiz said. “It felt great to be in the position I was in. My horse tried so hard and I can’t wait for the future.”
Audible, the Florida Derby winner, was a fast-closing third and nearly caught Good Magic for the place, but posed no threat to the winner.
The winning connections are among the most prominent in thoroughbred racing.
Justify’s ownership group includes, WinStar Farm, LLC, the aforementioned China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners, LLC.
Sol Kumin of Starlight Partners was also on the podium Friday as part of the ownership group for Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl.
“I’m so thrilled to be here,” Kumin said. “And, obviously, thanks to the partners for allowing us to come along on the ride as well.”
Justify broke a long-running Kentucky Derby curse, becoming the first horse to win the Run for the Roses without racing as a 2-year old since Apollo accomplished that feat in 1882.
The final time was 2:04.20 over the sloppy Churchill Downs main track.
Kentucky Derby undercard
Limousine Liberal repeated as champion in the Grade II Churchill Downs presented by Twinspires.com.
*American Gal cruised past pacesetter Finley’sluckycharm and easily held off Lewis Bay and Ivy Bell to take the Grade I Humana Distaff. The seven-furlong contest was the first of seven graded stakes races on the day.
The 4yo filly is trained by Simon Callaghan for owner Kaleem Shah.
*Jockey John Velasquez guided homebred Proctor’s Lodge to a half-length victory in the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. It is the third time Velasquez has won the Grade II race and the first since he took Hungry Island to the Winner’s Circle in 2012. Velasquez also won the race aboard Shires Ende in 1999.
Proctor’s Lodge was 12-1 on the morning line, but was bet in half, paying $15.60 to win for trainer Brendan Walsh and owner Patricia Moseley
*Limousine Liberal repeated as champion in the seven furlong, Grade I Churchill Downs Presented by Twinspires.com
Jockey Jose Ortiz was aboard the homebred gelding, trained by Ben Colebrook for owner Katherine Ball
Limousine Liberal came into the race with more than $1 million in career earnings and took home the winner’s share of the $500,000 purse.
*Maraud surged to the front midstretch and went on to a 1 ½ length victory in the Grade II American Turf Presented by Ram Trucks.
The 3yo colt, by Blame, out of an Empire Maker mare, put away pacesetter Speed Franco, then held off closers Untamed Domain and Captivating Moon who dead-heated for the place.
Jockey John Velasquez teamed with trainer Todd Pletcher to secure the victory for owner Treadway Racing Stable.
*It was good weather for ducks and 39-1 longshot Funny Duck left the field waddling in his wake in the Grade III Pat Day Mile, with Jockey Brian Hernandez up.
Funny Duck gave trainer Rusty Arnold his second consecutive win in the race for Calumet Farm, which saw Wild Shot go to the Winner’s Circle in last year’s Pat Day Mile.
The 3yo colt splashed to a 4 ¾ length victory and paid $81.40 to win. He also triggered a $1,753.60 $2 exacta and a $17, 138.50 $1 trifecta as fellow longshots New York Central and Givemeaminit ran second and third at 30-1 and 21-1, respectively.
*Yoshida was a buzz horse prior to the Grade I Old Forrester Turf Classic and lived up to the hype, winning the race by three quarters of a length over favored Beach Patrol.
Despite the soggy conditions, some fans kept up the Derby Day tradition of enjoying the races from the infield.
Away from the races since winning the Hill Prince at Belmont Park in October, Yoshida’s odds were set at 15-1 on the morning line. The off odds of 9-1, however, suggested bettors new the 4yo colt, bred in Japan, was ready for a big effort.
Beach Patrol grabbed the lead turning for home and fought on gamely, but was no match for Yoshida, ridden by Jose Ortiz.
Yoshida is trained by Bill Mott for owners China Horse Club and WinStar Farm, both of whom are also part owners of Kentucky Derby winner Justify.
The steady rain made the packed Churchill Downs track seem even more crowded than the announced attendance of 157,813, the eighth largest crowd ever. Many fans stayed under cover, venturing out just before post time to watch the live races on the undercard, while others remained inside for most of the afternoon.
The thrill of seeing the Kentucky Derby live, however, coaxed many outside and Justify rewarded them with a memorable victory in the 144th renewal of Churchill Downs’, and America’s, signature race.
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com
