2002 Kentucky Derby

Last updated
128th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Location Churchill Downs
DateMay 4, 2002
Winning horse War Emblem
Winning time2:01.13
Starting price 20-1
Jockey Victor Espinoza
Trainer Bob Baffert
Owner The Thoroughbred Corporation
Conditions Fast [1]
SurfaceDirt
Attendance145,033
←  2001
2003  →

The 2002 Kentucky Derby was the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 4, 2002, [2] and 145,033 people were in attendance. [3] The race was won by War Emblem who led from start to finish.

Contents

Race description

The field was considered evenly matched, especially after the scratch of Buddha, who had won the Wood Memorial. The favorite was Harlan's Holiday, who had won both the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. He went off at odds of 6-1, then the longest starting price for a favorite in Derby history. Medaglia d'Oro and Saarland, who had finished second and fourth in the Wood Memorial respectively, went off at odds of 7-1. [4] [5] [6]

War Emblem was a relative longshot at odds of 20-1, despite having won the Illinois Derby in frontrunning fashion on April 6. Shortly after that race, he was purchased by The Thoroughbred Corporation (owned by Saudi Prince Ahmed Salman) and was put into training with Bob Baffert. Baffert trained the colt aggressively to build up his stamina, and quipped, "If this horse wins the Derby, it will be the best and shortest training job ever." [4]

As expected, War Emblem went to the early lead, running the first quarter-mile in 23.25 seconds and the half in :47.04. Jockey Victor Espinoza was then able to slow down the pace slightly as the colt maintained a lead of 1+1⁄2 lengths down the backstretch and around the final turn. In the final furlong, War Emblem opened up his lead to four lengths under a hand ride. Espinoza said that he knew no one could catch them as the colt had been moving so easily. He completed the 1+1⁄4 miles in 2:01.13, then the seventh fastest Derby in history. Another longshot, Proud Citizen, finished second, resulting in an exacta payout of $1,300.80 for a $2 bet. [1] [4]

Results

FinishedProgram
number		HorseJockeyTrainerOwnerOddsTime / behind
1st5 War Emblem Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert The Thoroughbred Corporation 20.502:01.13
2nd13Proud Citizen Mike E. Smith D. Wayne Lukas R. Baker, D. Cornstein, Wm. Mack23.304 lengths
3rd3 Perfect Drift Eddie Delahoussaye Murray W. JohnsonStonecrest Farm7.904+3⁄4 lengths
4th9 Medaglia d'Oro Laffit Pincay Jr. Robert Frankel Edmund A. Gann 6.908 lengths
5th7Request for Parole Robby Albarado Steve Margolis Jeri & Sam Knighton29.809+1⁄2 lengths
6th15Came Home Chris McCarron Paco GonzalesFarish, Goodman, Toffan & McCaffrey8.2010+1⁄4 lengths
7th14 Harlan's Holiday Edgar Prado Ken McPeek Starlight Stable, L.P.6.0012+1⁄4 lengths
8th1Johannesburg Gary Stevens Aidan O'Brien Michael Tabor & Susan Magnier8.1013 lengths
9th8Essence of Dubai David Flores Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing, Inc. 10.0013 lengths
10th16Saarland John Velazquez Claude R. McGaughey III Cynthia Phipps6.9014 lengths
11th20Blue Burner Pat Day Bill Mott Kinsman Stable 24.2016+1⁄2 lengths
12th11Castle Gandolfo Jerry Bailey Aidan O'Brien Susan Magnier14.5017 lengths
13th19Easy Grades Jorge Chavez Ted WestDesperado Stables43.8021+1⁄4 lengths
14th10Private Emblem Donnie Meche Steve Asmussen James Cassels & Bob Zollars22.4021+1⁄2 lengths
15th4Lusty LatinGlenn Corbett Jeff Mullins Joey & Wendy Platts22.1026 lengths
16th16It'sallinthechaseEddie Martin Jr.Wilson BrownDarwin Olson94.5028+1⁄4 lengths
17th6Ocean Sound Alex Solis James M. CassidyK.M. Stable, Jim Ford, & D. Pearson48.7031 lengths
18th2Wild Horses René Douglas Todd Pletcher Peachtree Stable58.5033+1⁄4 lengths

Scratched: Buddha, Danthebluegrassman

Source: Equibase Chart [1]

Payout

The 128th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule [1]
Program
Number		Horse Name
Win
Place
Show
5 War Emblem US$43.00$22.80$13.60
13Proud Citizen-$24.60$13.40
3 Perfect Drift --$6.40

Subsequent racing careers

Several horses went on to record Grade I wins:

Subsequent breeding careers

Medaglia d'Oro

Harlan's Holiday

Johannesburg

Essence of Dubai

Sources: American Classic Pedigrees, Equibase, Blood-Horse Stallion Register, Racing Post

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Chart of the 2002 Kentucky Derby". Equibase. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Kentucky Derby History, 2002
  3. ↑ "128th Kentucky Derby" . Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  4. 1 2 3 "War Emblem Wins the Kentucky Derby". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 4 May 2002.
  5. 1 2 "Harlan's Holiday". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Medaglia d'Oro". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "War Emblem". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Perfect Drift". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Request for Parole". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Came Home". Equibase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
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