A Photo Finish at Kentucky Derby

The first weekend in May. 10 furlongs. 3 year olds. The first jewel in the Triple Crown. A place in history. The Kentucky Derby is the arguably the most prestigious race of the year.



This year brought out 19 colts and a lone filly from 17 stables. Goforwand Stables, Snowbank Farm, and Zippy Chippy Stables sent two each.



These 20 horses were looking to join War Machine as PF second Triple Crown winner. War Machine won the American Triple Crown in 2005, winning the Derby with a time of 2:00.0; which was also the year that Madam De Francais of FDL Lodge won the American Fillies' Triple Crown (who placed 3rd in the Belmont after Star Studded - Bonai).



In 2003 Spanish Midnight from Bonai Farms became the first to win the Kentucky Derby with a time of 2:00.2. Revenge of KRF Stables would take the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, having sat out the Derby from an early spring injury. Spanish Midnight did not start in the Preakness coming back sore, but ran 2nd in the Belmont.



In 2004, Thunder Artic of Rainbow won the Kentucky Derby (1:59.1) and the Belmont Stakes. Dansilver trained by Kings Park took the Preakness by 2 lengths and placed 2nd in the Derby behind Thunder Artic; he did not start in the Belmont.



In 2006 the smallest field since 2003 started with Down the Drain trained by Old Brewery Stables won by 1/2 length over Sobriety of Snowbank Farms with at time of 2:00.0. He placed 3rd and last in the Preakness (Sobrety winning) and came back to win the Belmont.




Pegasus Song trained by Goforwand Stables became the first filly to claim the Derby in 2007 with a time of 1:58.4. She went on to placed 2nd in both the Preakness and Belmont to A Bus of Port Pirie and Braveheart trained by FDL Lodge, respectively.




In the following year in 2008, it was the year of the fillies. Perfect Bell won the Kentucky Derby with a time of 1:59.1. Finishing 2nd and 3rd were fillies Isca's Revenge and Case Closed from Smokey's Stable and Bally Doyle. In the Preakness Perfect Bell and Case Closed ran 1st and 2nd. Perfect Bell was looking to become the first filly to win the Triple Crown, but Led Astray of Hopeful Farm won the Belmont by 2 lengths. In the Belmont the top 5 finishers were fillies (Isca's Revenge, Perfect Bell, Penumbra Moon - Long Island Hayburners - and Notice Me - FDL Lodge). The top placed colt was Handsome Gesture of Snowbank Farm who finished some 12 lengths back.



Last year there was no fillies entered in the Derby, and Taco Bell of Pointgiven Stables (Perfect Bell's 1/2 brother by Bellbuster) won the Derby with a time of 2:00.2. Taco Bell was unplaced in the Preakness, the winner going to Venezia of Port Pirie Stables who is the son of Bold N' Free who placed in the Derby and Preakness. However, Venezia placed 2nd in the Belmont to Thunder Heart trained by Lakeside Acres. It was the first time in PF history that 3 different horses won each leg of the race.



*Note times were taken from past results which may vary from the PP

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This weekend brought out a full field of 20 horses. Priceless Revenge from Chiknsmack Stables went off at the 9:2 favorite. New Tower from Snowbank Farm was the 5:1 second choice by the bettors. And at 8:1 were New Tower from Gorforwand Stables and Quick Step of Moose Hollow Farm. Iginla who is trained at Iron Racing went off at 9:1. All others were priced from 10:1 to 77:1.



It was a clear May day in Kentucky as the 19 colts and filly made their way to the gate. The track was deemed fast and ready for the races. Earlier in the Kentucky Oaks, Laurie of Snowbank Farm had brought home the winner Resounding and Gorforwand Stables had 1/2 sister to New Tower, Tear Tower finished 3rd.

With a full field of nearly all rambunctious colts the starter had his hands full in this first start of the Triple Crown. However under his expert command they were all settled and ready in the gate.




Quick Step and Ladies Mon of Wolf Ridge Stables broke the fastest. Whereas Born to Run of Woodbury, Ride the Sun of Godolphin17, and Faldo of Olmor Dorato quickly settled back some 6 to 8 lengths back; although Born to Run quickly made up lost ground.



As the field entered the turn, New Tower in the 1st post position held a length lead over Ladies Mon. Priceless Revenge, Regal Son, Petenwell (Smokey's Stable), and Serendipity (Rainbow) followed in a short lead over the rest of the field. Serendipity began to move up stealing third from Regal Son and began moving up on Ladies Mon.



At the start of the backstretch New Tower was running well a length in front of Serendipity who took 2nd from Ladies Mon, and began inching up on the leader. Regal Son settled in comfortably 3 lengths back, heading off the field with Petenwell, Priceless Revenge, Quick Step, and The Big O (Under the Weeping Moon) ahead of the main pack.



At the end of the backstretch New Tower and Serendipity began to extend their lead over the field by 4 lengths. Ladies Mon couldn't keep up with the pace and began to fall back as Quick Step, Regal Son, Petenwell, Priceless Revenge, and The Big O began to make their move. Iginla also began moving up the field.



As they came out of the turn New Tower was still the leader with Serendipity on his heels. The trio led by Quick Step, Priceless Revenge, and Regal Son began moving up fast on the leaders. Also Petenwell and Iginla started to show some speed as they tried to make up lost ground.



In the homestretch, Serendipity could not keep up with New Tower and the onslaught on the upcoming field and started falling back. Priceless Revenge started in on the leader and fought to get his nose ahead of New Tower. Squeezing between the racing colts was Regal Son who had found racing room and was making his move in 3rd. Iginla on the outside was eating up ground trying to catch the leaders before he ran out of track. Petenwell was also moving well, sliding past Quick Step and Serendipity.



Priceless Revenge couldn't stay with New Tower and Regal Son as they flew to the finish nose to nose; while Iginla was gaining ground with each stride, but was quickly running out of race.





In the last few strides of the race, Iginla swept past Priceless Revenge to claim third as New Tower and Regal Son swept under the wire together - A Photo Finish! The time was an excellent 1:58.96. The photo showed that New Tower had beat the Snowbank Farm colt by less than a nose.



However, out of 20 racers only 7 walked away with a clean bill of health. New Tower came back with the worst injury who will be out of training for a minimum of 30 days which will put him out of Triple Crown contention. Regal Son came back sore and the vet recommended 2 days of rest before strenuous works.



The connections at Goforwand Stables said in a statement released soon after the results, "[It's] unfortunate that New Tower will be unable to compete for TC but can't tell you how happy I am for the KD win."



However, they were still looking on to the Preakness and claimed that they "have a alternate for [The Preakness]."





The late running Ignila will see The Preakness and owner as plans to send him to the Belmont. He said in a statment that, "We've been very patient with IGGY. So i think he's fresh and will compete in the next legs of the TC." He was hopeful in "Iggy's" preformance and said, "maybe we can pick up a win in Baltimore or New York."

Although we will have no American Triple Crown winner, perhaps Laurie will have Resounding become the 3rd filly to with the female's crown. And we will certainly be following this season's strong bunch of three year olds to the Preakness and Belmont.

The Order of Finish for the 2010 Kentucky Derby

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Matt's Notable Mention: Watch out for Ignila in the Belmont. He was going to catch the two front runners if given another 1/2 furlong or so. The 2 furlongs in the Belmont will aid this late running colt. Regal Son was also moving well at the end, and perhaps would've given Laurie a double win in another stride. However, perhaps New Tower's injury played in to it.

An excellent race with the photo finish and Iginla final drive. If you haven't watched it, one should even if you know the outcome of the race.