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Orb, Despite Muddy Conditions, Captures Kentucky Derby Orb Finds Joy in Mudville
(about 1 hour later)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The revelers were sloppy, the grounds were sloppy and the racetrack was sloppy. Yet, Orb, ridden by the red-hot Joel Rosario, found a way to win despite his lack of experience on a wet track, trudging to victory in the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The revelers were sloppy, the grounds were sloppy and the racetrack was sloppy, but Orb did not mind much, and afterward his owners and trainer could not have been happier with the way the day played out.
Orb held off Golden Soul to win the mile and a quarter race. He paid $12.80 on a $2 bet to win. It was the first Derby victory for the Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and the esteemed Phipps family. Revolutionary finished third. Orb, ridden by the red-hot Joel Rosario, found a way to win despite his lack of experience on a wet track, trudging to victory in the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The top contenders all drew favorable posts Wednesday, allowing the Churchill Downs oddsmaker, Mike Battaglia, to leave his early predictions for the morning line intact. But as the week wore on, the forecast grew more grim, leaving many handicappers scrambling for a horse who has demonstrated that he can handle the slop. He outran Golden Soul by two and a half lengths to win the mile-and-a-quarter race in 2 minutes 2.89 seconds. It was the first Derby victory for the Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and the esteemed Phipps family. Revolutionary finished third, another length back.
Orb, who had won four straight races entering the race, including the Florida Derby on March 30, proved he was the best of the bunch, mud or no mud. He stole the morning-line favorite distinction from Verrazano, at 7-2, with a blazing work Monday that left McGaughey smiling wide. But what was sunny and warm weather early in the week transformed to chilly and rainy by the end, harming Orb’s chances. Orb is owned by Ogden Mills Phipps and Stuart Janney III, who are first cousins and prominent members of the Phipps racing empire. Six generations of the family have been involved in the sport, gathering victories in the biggest races except the Kentucky Derby. Easy Goer finished second for the Phippses and McGaughey behind Sunday Silence in 1989. “It means everything to me,” McGaughey, 62, said. “I always dreamed of this day. It finally came.”
The trainer Todd Pletcher saddled five horses in the 19-horse field, tying a record. Leading the way for Pletcher was Verrazano, the previously undefeated colt who was the second morning-line choice at 4-1. Pletcher also trains Overanalyze, Revolutionary, Palace Malice and Charming Kitten. He also had four contenders in Friday’s $1 million Kentucky Oaks for fillies, including the winner, the 38-1 long shot Princess of Sylmar. The top contenders all drew favorable posts Wednesday, allowing the Churchill Downs oddsmaker, Mike Battaglia, to leave his early predictions for the morning line intact. But as the week wore on, the forecast grew more grim, leaving many handicappers scrambling for a horse who had demonstrated that he can handle the slop.
Pletcher now has a 1-for-36 record in the Derby. Super Saver, who won the Derby for Pletcher in 2010, benefited from a sloppy track and a ground-saving trip by Calvin Borel. Borel was aboard Revolutionary, who broke from the No. 3 post, the perfect spot for him to work his magic. But he could not catch Orb on Saturday. This Derby produced a number of story lines. Orb, who had won four straight races entering the race, including the Florida Derby on March 30, proved he was the best of the bunch, mud or no mud. He stole the morning-line favorite distinction from Verrazano, at 7-2, with a blazing work Monday that left McGaughey smiling. But what was sunny and warm weather early in the week transformed to chilly and rainy by the end, harming Orb’s chances. He rewarded those who were faithful to him with $12.80 on a $2 bet to win.
Verrazano, who edged Normandy Invasion by three-quarters of a length in the Wood on April 6, did not race as a 2-year-old because of shin problems. The last Derby winner who did not race at 2 was Apollo in 1882.Mylute and Rosie Napravnik, 25, who is second in the North American jockey standings in wins, drew a favorable position in Post 6. She had a chance to become the first woman to win the Derby but finished fifth. A year ago, she became the first woman rider to win the Kentucky Oaks for fillies. In 2011, she guided Pants on Fire to a ninth-place finish, the best by a woman in the Derby. She is one of only six women to ride in the race. Orb is owned by Ogden Mills Phipps and Stuart Janney III, who are first cousins and prominent members of the Phipps racing empire. Six generations of the family have been involved in the sport, stockpiling victories in the biggest races, all except the Kentucky Derby. Easy Goer finished second for the Phippses and McGaughey behind Sunday Silence in 1989. Throughout the lead-up to the race, the family insisted they did not have Derby fever. But a glance at Phipps during the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” showed he might have had more emotion inside than he was letting on.
Afterward, the owners gave credit where it was due, to McGaughey, who has trained for the family since 1986 and has been a fixture in his barn throughout the week, carefully watching over his charge and getting his hand dirty in the process.
“This is a time to reflect on our terrific trainer,” Janney said. “I certainly hoped it would be his time, and it was.”
Phipps, who is known as Dinny, quickly chimed in, “Well, he’s right about that.”
Rosario won the world’s richest horse race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup, on March 30 aboard the 2011 Derby winner, Animal Kingdom. He closed the recent Keeneland meet with 38 victories, a spring session record. And on opening night at Churchill Downs, he won five races, including the prep race, the Derby Trial.
“To win the Dubai World Cup and the Derby, it is like living a dream,” Rosario said. “I feel awesome and this guy today, it was all him. I was so far behind. I let him be calm and relaxed.”
The trainer Todd Pletcher saddled five horses in the 19-horse field, tying a record. Leading the way for Pletcher was Verrazano, the previously undefeated colt who was the second morning-line choice at 4-1. Pletcher also trains Overanalyze (11th), Revolutionary, Palace Malice (12th) and Charming Kitten (9th). He also had four contenders in Friday’s $1 million Kentucky Oaks for fillies, including the winner, the 38-1 long shot Princess of Sylmar.
But it was not meant to be Saturday for Pletcher, who now has a 1-for-36 record in the Derby, with two seconds and two thirds. He has also never saddled a Derby favorite. (He is also 0 for 7 in the Preakness and 1 for 11 in the Belmont.)
Super Saver, who won the Derby for Pletcher in 2010, benefited from a sloppy track and a ground-saving trip by Calvin Borel. Borel was aboard Revolutionary, who broke from the No. 3 post, the perfect spot for him to work his magic. But he could not catch the late-closing Orb. This particular Derby produced a number of compelling story lines.
Verrazano, who edged Normandy Invasion by three-quarters of a length in the Wood Memorial on April 6, did not race as a 2-year-old because of shin problems. Not working in his favor: the last Derby winner who did not race at 2 was Apollo in 1882.Mylute and Rosie Napravnik, 25, who is second in the North American jockey standings in wins, drew a favorable position in Post 6. She had a chance to become the first woman to win the Derby, but finished fifth. A year ago, she became the first woman rider to win the Kentucky Oaks for fillies. In 2011, she guided Pants on Fire to a ninth-place finish, previously the best by a woman in the Derby until she improved upon her own mark Saturday. She is one of only six women to ride in the race.
Oxbow, who finished sixth, and Will Take Charge, who finished eighth, were the record 46th and 47th Derby starters for the Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Derby winner. The jockey-turned-analyst-turned jockey again Gary Stevens, 50, was aboard Oxbow, in an attempt to keep fueling his wild comeback ride.
On this first Saturday in May, however, it was time for one of racing’s first families and its trainer to celebrate in this storied winner’s circle, adding a missing piece to all their success.