In a race with so many top horses, it was a relative outsider ridden by a rookie jockey that won the Derby this year. I’ll Have Another, trained by Doug O’Neill and ridden by Mario Gutierrez passed by a game Bodemeister in the final strides to get the win. Bodemeister, unraced at two, followed his Arkansas Derby win with a stellar race today to finish second. He led the field through five fast quarters (reportedly the fastest in Derby history) only to just run out of gas at the end. I’ll Have Another had a super trip, and a good run to win– but I think Bodemeister came away just as impressive, if not more so, with his performance. Dullahan, the Blue Grass Stakes winner, finished third.
It wasn’t meant to be for Union Rags, who broke a little slow and was troubled in traffic most of the way around. Hansen was clearly upset by the atmosphere, washed out and acting up in the post parade. He ran close to the pace and faded near the end. Read more about the Derby here on Bloodhorse.com.
