![]() ![]() As of Tuesday, there are four 50-1 longshots in the derby field. But many may tune in for the possible thrill of a longshot winning (and the associated wagering). This year’s current favorite is Forte, the recent Florida Derby winner. Rich Strike (81-1 odds) wins the 148th Kentucky Derby □ #KyDerby ONE OF THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN KENTUCKY DERBY HISTORY. So what sort of TV audience should we expect?Ī year ago, the race averaged 16 million viewers (it’s best since pre-pandemic 2019) and was won by feel-good story Rich Strike, whose 80-1 odds made his victory the event’s second-biggest longshot upset since Donerail overcame 91-1 odds to win in 1913. (and also on the Telemundo Deportes site and app). "I feel like the luckiest man alive," Dawson said, grinning.New this year is live Spanish-language coverage of the race by NBC’s Telemundo Deportes airing on its premium cable channel Universo beginning at 6:30 p.m. Reed typed, "I think our horse is cool and ready to run."ĭawson responded, "If we can wake him up." Then came Rich Strike thundering along the rail and all heck broke loose.Ī few days ago, Reed sent Dawson a photo of the colt sprawled in his straw-covered stall with his handlers laying on him, all of them napping. The bourbon was flowing again Saturday, cigar smoke curled in the air on a cloudy and unusually cool day, and fans strutted in their huge hats, floral-print dresses and seersucker suits. The 2021 Derby was back to its usual spot on the calendar with attendance limited to about 52,000. Last year's winner, Medina Spirit, was disqualified after nine months, having failed a post-race drug test that led to six-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert being banned from Churchill Downs for two years. In 2020, an eerie silence enveloped the track when no fans were allowed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the race was pushed to September. In 2019, winner Maximum Security was disqualified for interference after 22 minutes and runner-up Country House wore the garland of red roses. Simplification finished fourth and Mo Donegal was fifth.Ĭhurchill Downs returned to full capacity, including former President Donald Trump, on the first Saturday in May for the first time in three years.īut the final result was the more upheaval for America's greatest horse race. The colt lost to Zandon in his most recent start last month and was beaten by Epicenter in the John Battaglia Memorial in March. Rich Strike earned $1.86 million for his first stakes victory. Calumet Farm has won a record eight Kentucky Derbies, but none since 1968, when Forward Pass was placed first via disqualification. Rich Strike was purchased by Dawson, who races as RED TR-Racing LLC, for $30,000 last fall when the colt was entered in a low-level claiming race by his former owner.Ĭalumet Farm head Brad Kelley might be ruing that decision now. "And so anybody that's in this business, lightening can strike." "Small trainer, small rider, small stable, he should have been 80-1," Reed said. Reed had no argument with the bettors ignoring his colt, whose victory surely inspired little guys everywhere. Mine That Bird sprang what was then the Derby's third-biggest upset, paying $103.20 to win. Leon's rail ride was reminiscent of jockey Calvin Borel's stealth move aboard Mine That Bird in 2009. But he matched wits with such veteran riders as Joel Rosario, aboard Epicenter, and Mike Smith, aboard Messier. Leon regularly rides on some of the country's smallest circuits, where the horse flesh is inexpensive and the purse money modest. "It let me know there's so much good out there, and then I just decided I wasn't going to let it take me out." "People I hadn't seen, people I haven't talked to in years, my best friends were there in the morning to pick me up," Reed recalled. He briefly considered the fire might be a signal for him to leave the sport. Reed endured a tragedy five years ago when he lost nearly two dozen horses in a barn fire at his training center in Lexington. "When I was in the last 70 yards, I said, 'I think I got this race,'" Leon said.īoth Leon, from Venezuela, and Reed were in their first Derby. Rich Strike made a deft move around Messier in the stretch and went right back to the rail intent on picking off Epicenter and Zandon. Leon eventually guided his mount between horses and to the inside rail. Jockey Sonny Leon and Rich Strike had just two horses beat in the early going. "I got beat by the horse that just got in." "I can't believe it after Epicenter's effort," said losing trainer Steve Asmussen, who fell to 0 for 24 in the Derby. After taking a bite out of his much costlier competition, he playfully chomped on the pony guiding him to the winner's circle. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit ![]()
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