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| Orb Finds Joy in Mudville | Orb Finds Joy in Mudville |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The revelers were sloppy, the grounds were sloppy and the racetrack was sloppy, but Orb apparently did not mind much, and afterward his owners and trainer could not have been happier with the way the day played out. | LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The revelers were sloppy, the grounds were sloppy and the racetrack was sloppy, but Orb apparently did not mind much, and afterward his owners and trainer could not have been happier with the way the day played out. |
| The late-closing 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 late-closing 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. |
| 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 Phipps family. Revolutionary finished third, another length back. | 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 Phipps family. Revolutionary finished third, another length back. |
| “Obviously, it’s a huge, huge thrill for me,” McGaughey, 62, said, teary after the race. “It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win, a race I’ve always wanted to compete in if I thought I had the right horse, and finally today we had the right horse.” | “Obviously, it’s a huge, huge thrill for me,” McGaughey, 62, said, teary after the race. “It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win, a race I’ve always wanted to compete in if I thought I had the right horse, and finally today we had the right horse.” |
| 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 weather forecast grew more grim, leaving many handicappers scrambling for a horse that had shown that he could handle the slop. | 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 weather forecast grew more grim, leaving many handicappers scrambling for a horse that had shown that he could handle the slop. |
| 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 workout Monday that left McGaughey smiling. But the 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. | 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 workout Monday that left McGaughey smiling. But the 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. |
| 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. Long before that, Phipps (and his father, Ogden Phipps) lost out on the Triple Crown winner Secretariat, a son of Bold Ruler, who was owned by Phipps’s grandmother. After a coin toss, they picked a filly by the sire instead. | 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. Long before that, Phipps (and his father, Ogden Phipps) lost out on the Triple Crown winner Secretariat, a son of Bold Ruler, who was owned by Phipps’s grandmother. After a coin toss, they picked a filly by the sire instead. |
| “We wanted the filly because our stable is based on the fillies,” said Ogden Mills Phipps, who is known as Dinny, and who because of a blood clot in his leg four years ago has trouble walking. “The foal couldn’t outrun me, and that’s not very good.” | |
| Janney said he never heard anyone in his family lament about losing out on Secretariat. | Janney said he never heard anyone in his family lament about losing out on Secretariat. |
| “I never saw my grandmother or my Uncle Ogden spend too much time worrying about spilled milk,” he said. “They were always about what’s going to happen next. I can remember Uncle Ogden would be very nervous before a big race. There were many times when whatever his expectations were, they didn’t turn out, the horse ran terribly, whatever. It was like he just turned the page.” | “I never saw my grandmother or my Uncle Ogden spend too much time worrying about spilled milk,” he said. “They were always about what’s going to happen next. I can remember Uncle Ogden would be very nervous before a big race. There were many times when whatever his expectations were, they didn’t turn out, the horse ran terribly, whatever. It was like he just turned the page.” |
| Dinny Phipps made an effort to get out to Payson Park near his home in Palm Beach, Fla., to see his late-blooming colt train, making McGaughey, knowing the significance, a little nervous. | Dinny Phipps made an effort to get out to Payson Park near his home in Palm Beach, Fla., to see his late-blooming colt train, making McGaughey, knowing the significance, a little nervous. |
| “It’s a struggle for me to get out there, but I wanted to go see how he was doing,” Phipps said. | “It’s a struggle for me to get out there, but I wanted to go see how he was doing,” Phipps said. |
| Throughout the lead-up to the race, the family insisted it 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. | Throughout the lead-up to the race, the family insisted it 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, watching over his charge and getting his hands dirty in the process. | 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, watching over his charge and getting his hands 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.” | “This is a time to reflect on our terrific trainer,” Janney said. “I certainly hoped it would be his time, and it was.” |
| Phipps quickly chimed in, “Well, he’s right about that.” | Phipps 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. | 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.” | “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. | 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. 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 as he thundered down the homestretch. | 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. 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 as he thundered down the homestretch. |
| This particular Derby produced a number of compelling story lines, among them that of Kevin Krigger, who was trying to become the first black jockey to win the race since Jimmy Winkfield won consecutive Derbys in 1901 and 1902. His mount, Goldencents, normally close to the lead at the start, hung back and finished 17th. | This particular Derby produced a number of compelling story lines, among them that of Kevin Krigger, who was trying to become the first black jockey to win the race since Jimmy Winkfield won consecutive Derbys in 1901 and 1902. His mount, Goldencents, normally close to the lead at the start, hung back and finished 17th. |
| “They went really fast early, and I thought Kevin gave a great ride,” said Doug O’Neill, who trained Goldencents, as well as last year’s Derby winner, I’ll Have Another. “He settled into a good spot, and for some reason, he didn’t fire today.” | “They went really fast early, and I thought Kevin gave a great ride,” said Doug O’Neill, who trained Goldencents, as well as last year’s Derby winner, I’ll Have Another. “He settled into a good spot, and for some reason, he didn’t fire today.” |
| Rosie Napravnik, 25, who is second in the North American jockey standings in wins, had a chance to become the first woman to win the Derby, but finished fifth aboard Mylute. 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. | Rosie Napravnik, 25, who is second in the North American jockey standings in wins, had a chance to become the first woman to win the Derby, but finished fifth aboard Mylute. 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 was 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, rode Oxbow, trying to keep fueling his wild comeback ride. | Oxbow, who finished sixth, and Will Take Charge, who was 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, rode Oxbow, trying 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. | 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. |