2017 Kentucky Derby

Last updated

143rd Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby logo.jpg
The 143rd "Run for the Roses"
Location Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
DateMay 6, 2017 (2017-05-06)
Winning horse Always Dreaming
Winning time2:03.59
Jockey John Velazquez
Trainer Todd Pletcher
OwnerMeB Racing Stables, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola Racing Stable, St. Elias Stable, Siena Farm & West Point Thoroughbreds
Conditions Wet Fast (sealed) [1]
SurfaceDirt
Attendance158,070
←  2016
2018  →

The 2017 Kentucky Derby (branded as the 143rd Running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands for sponsorship reasons) [1] was the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby, and took place on Saturday, May 6, 2017. [2] The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held each year in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, at the end of the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. It is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km), and has been run at Churchill Downs racetrack since its inception in 1875. [3]

Contents

The race was broadcast by NBC with a scheduled post time of 6:34 PM ET. [4] The race went off at 6:52 PM ET [1] before a crowd of 158,070 [5] and a television audience of 16.5 million viewers, the race's largest since 1989. [6] The winner was the post-time favorite, Always Dreaming. [1]

Qualification

The field for the Kentucky Derby was limited to twenty horses who qualified based on points earned in the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of races that was first introduced in 2013. [7] Girvin was the top point-earner in 2017 after winning both the Risen Star Stakes and the Louisiana Derby. [8] Classic Empire, who was the early Derby favorite after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2016, finished second in the qualifying series after overcoming several setbacks to win the Arkansas Derby. [9] The other major prep race winners were Gormley (Santa Anita Derby), Irap (Blue Grass Stakes), Irish War Cry (Wood Memorial), Always Dreaming (Florida Derby) and Thunder Snow (UAE Derby). Several other contenders did not enter due to injuries or because they raced inconsistently. For example, Not This Time was an early favorite for the Derby but was injured shortly after finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was retired from racing. [10] After an impressive win in the San Felipe Stakes, Mastery was pulled up by his jockey and was found to have a condylar fracture requiring several months to heal. [11]

For the first time, a spot in the starting gate was set aside for a horse from Japan through the separate Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Epicharis, a grandson of 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence, qualified by winning the Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on February 19. [12] However, the connections of Epicharis declined the invitation. [13]

Field

On May 3, entries for the Derby were taken and the post position draw was streamed live by Churchill Downs. [4] After drawing post position 14, Classic Empire was installed as the lukewarm favorite on the morning line at 4–1 by Mike Battaglia. [14] Always Dreaming in post position 5 and McCraken in post position 15 were both given odds of 5–1. [15]

The entry fee is normally $25,000, but Fast and Accurate was required to pay a supplemental entry fee of $200,000 as he was not nominated to the Triple Crown earlier in the year. [16] The two "also eligible" entries were scratched when none of the qualified horses opted to withdraw before the 9 a.m. Friday deadline. [17]

Race description

When betting opened, the odds for morning line favorite Classic Empire drifted up to 6.80/1 while those for Always Dreaming drifted down to 4.70/1, making Always Dreaming the post time favorite. The track was labelled as "Wet Fast (sealed)" [1] with some standing water due to persistent rain over the course of several days. In spite of the weather, 158,070 people attended the Derby, the seventh-highest turnout in the history of the race. [18] The television broadcast drew 16.5 million viewers, the most since 18.5 million watched Sunday Silence win the 1989 Derby. [6]

The Kentucky Derby was won by Always Dreaming.

The race had a difficult start for several horses. The most striking aspect of the start was the shocking refusal of Thunder Snow to run. When the gates flew open Thunder Snow inexplicably begin to buck and writhe, refusing to proceed and immediately getting pulled up. [19] The start for several other horses was disastrous due to a "chain reaction" caused by Irish War Cry who, in the 17th position, ducked to the inside at the start, pushing over number 16 Tapwrit, [20] and as a result, the 15 horse, McCracken, bumped heavily with number 14, Classic Empire. [1] "Classic Empire really got clobbered", said his trainer Mark Casse. "The track is impossible. Our horse ran extremely well, considering." [5]

From post position five, Always Dreaming avoided traffic problems with a burst of early speed, then settled into second place behind long shot State of Honor. In the first turn, jockey John R. Velazquez kept the colt along the rail then moved him to the outside of State of Honor down the backstretch. The two raced together into the far turn, where State of Honor started to fade while Battle of Midway and Irish War Cry moved up to challenge for the lead. Always Dreaming quickly responded by drawing away, opening up a lead of several lengths. Lookin At Lee, who had run along the rail for most of the race, found racing room and made a late run, but never threatened Always Dreaming, who won by 2+3⁄4 lengths. Battle of Midway was five lengths behind in third with Classic Empire finishing fourth. [5] [21]

Second-place finisher Lookin At Lee nearing the finish. 2017 Kentucky Derby - Lookin At Lee.jpg
Second-place finisher Lookin At Lee nearing the finish.

Trainer Todd Pletcher had entered the race with one win (Super Saver in 2010) from forty-five starters over the years. [5] Although one of the most successful trainers in the history of the sport, Pletcher was relieved to get another Derby win with Always Dreaming. "To me", Pletcher said, "I felt I really needed that second one, you know?" [22]

It was also the second Derby win for Velazquez, who had previously won in 2011 with Animal Kingdom. [5] "This is the best horse Todd and I have ever come to the Kentucky Derby with", he said. "I got a good position early and then he relaxed. When we hit the quarter pole, I asked him and he responded. He did it himself from there." [23]

It was the first Derby win for the ownership group that included Anthony Bonomo (who owns Brooklyn Boyz Stable), his wife Mary Ellen (MeB Racing), Vincent Viola (St Elias Stable) and his wife Teresa (Teresa Viola Racing). [24] Mary Ellen Bonomo named the horse because of her tendency to daydream. "Everybody dreams of something, whether it's a big event or special day, the birth of their child, winning the Kentucky Derby. So I just said, 'Always Dreaming.' It just took off." [25]

This was the fifth consecutive Derby in which the post-time favorite won. The only other time this happened was in the late 1890s. [26]

Result

FinishPostHorseJockeyTrainerMorning
Line Odds		Final
Odds		 Margin
(lengths)		Winnings Points
15 Always Dreaming John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 4.70+2+3⁄4$1,635,800100
21Lookin At Lee Corey Lanerie Steve Asmussen 33.202+3⁄4$400,00032
311 Battle of Midway Flavien Prat Jerry Hollendorfer 40.007+3⁄4$200,00040
414 Classic Empire Julien Leparoux Mark Casse 6.808+3⁄4$100,000132
519 Practical Joke Joel Rosario Chad Brown 27.809+1⁄2$60,00074
616 Tapwrit José Ortiz Todd Pletcher 27.1010+1⁄454
710 Gunnevera Javier Castellano Antonio Sano 10.0013+1⁄484
815McCraken Brian Hernandez Jr. Ian Wilkes 6.9013+1⁄440
918 Gormley Victor Espinoza John Shirreffs 22.3014+1⁄4125
1017 Irish War Cry Rajiv Maragh H. Graham Motion 4.8016+1⁄2110
118Hence Florent Geroux Steve Asmussen 15.0018+1⁄250
124Untrapped Ricardo Santana Jr. Steve Asmussen 58.0019+1⁄434
137 Girvin Mike E. Smith Joe Sharp 22.1019+1⁄2150
1420Patch Tyler Gaffalione Todd Pletcher 14.102140
1513J Boys Echo Luis Saez Dale Romans 47.302363
1612Sonneteer Kent Desormeaux J. Keith Desormeaux 39.7026+1⁄430
173Fast and Accurate Channing Hill Michael Maker 41.8028+3⁄450
189Irap Mario Gutierrez Doug O'Neill 41.4040+3⁄4113
196State of Honor Jose Lezcano Mark Casse 54.0045+3⁄462
DNF 2 Thunder Snow Christophe Soumillon Saeed bin Suroor 16.40100
—Royal Mo Gary Stevens John Shirreffs SCR30
—Master Plan John Velazquez Todd Pletcher SCR30

Times:1⁄4 mile – 0:22.70; 1⁄2 mile – 0:46.53; 3⁄4 mile – 1:11.12; mile – 1:37.27; final – 2:03.59.
Splits for each quarter-mile: (:22.70) (:23.83) (:24.59) (:26.15) (:26.32)

Source: Equibase chart [1]

Payout

The Kentucky Derby payout schedule [1]

Program
number		Horse NameWinPlaceShow
5Always Dreaming$11.40$7.20$5.80
1Lookin At Lee—$26.60$15.20
11Battle of Midway——$20.80

Subsequent Grade I wins

After winning the Derby, Always Dreaming never won another race. [27] Several of the runners up went on to achieve Grade I success:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Pletcher</span> American horse trainer

Todd Pletcher is an American thoroughbred horse trainer. He won the Eclipse Award eight times as Trainer of the Year, four of these in consecutive years. His horses Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017) won the Kentucky Derby. He also won the Belmont Stakes with Rags to Riches (2007), Palace Malice (2013), Tapwrit (2017) and Mo Donegal (2022). He also trained Malathaat who won the 2021 Kentucky Oaks.

The 2003 Kentucky Derby was the 129th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 3, 2003, and was won by longshot Funny Cide. There were 148,530 in attendance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Kentucky Derby</span> 141st running of Kentucky Derby

The 2015 Kentucky Derby was the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby. The race was run at 6:44 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on May 2, 2015, at Churchill Downs. It was broadcast in the United States on the NBC television network. Kentucky native Ashley Judd voiced the opening for the telecast of the race, and was the first woman to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Kentucky Derby</span> 142nd running of Kentucky Derby

The 2016 Kentucky Derby was the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby. The race was run at 6:51 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on May 7, 2016, at Churchill Downs. The race was broadcast in the United States on the NBC television network. The second largest attendance of 167,227 was on hand for the event.

The 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby was a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2017 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 6. The field for the Derby was limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic Empire</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Classic Empire is a retired American Thoroughbred race horse who was named the American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse of 2016 after winning the Breeders' Futurity Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. After several setbacks at the start of his three-year-old campaign, he won the Arkansas Derby, finished a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Derby, then second by a head in the Preakness Stakes. Classic Empire was retired due to multiple setbacks from an abscess on his right front hoof, as well as slight back problems which plagued him throughout his career. He stands stud at Ashford Stud, in Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Practical Joke (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Practical Joke is a retired multiple Grade I-winning American Thoroughbred racehorse whose wins included the Hopeful, Champagne and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girvin</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Girvin is an American Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 2017 Louisiana Derby and Haskell Invitational. He was the holder of the highest point ranking for the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always Dreaming</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Always Dreaming is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2017 Kentucky Derby and Florida Derby. He had four wins from eleven starts, and earnings of $2,415,860.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish War Cry</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Irish War Cry is a multiple Graded stakes-winning American Thoroughbred racehorse, noted for winning the Wood Memorial Stakes, Pimlico Special Handicap and finishing second in the 2017 Belmont Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Belmont Stakes</span> 149th running of the Belmont Stakes

The 2017 Belmont Stakes was the 149th running of the Belmont Stakes and the 106th time the event took place at Belmont Park. The 1+1⁄2-mile (2,400 m) race, known as the "test of the champion", is the final jewel in Thoroughbred horse racing's American Triple Crown series. The race was on June 10, 2017, and was broadcast by NBC starting at 5 PM EDT. For the second straight year, the Belmont did not have a Triple Crown at stake, as 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming had lost in the Preakness Stakes. The race was won by Tapwrit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunnevera</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Gunnevera is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Orphaned from an early age, he became the leading juvenile earner from the first crop of Dialed In. He was a contender on the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes as a two-year-old and the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park during his three-year-old season. Given a layoff after finishing seventh in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness Stakes, he returned in August to win the Tangelo Stakes before finishing second in the Travers Stakes.

Tapwrit is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2017 Belmont Stakes. He first attracted attention when he set a track record winning the Tampa Bay Derby, but disappointed in the Blue Grass Stakes and Kentucky Derby. Skipping the Preakness Stakes, he then became his sire Tapit's third winner of the Belmont Stakes in the previous four years. Retired in 2018, Tapwrit stands at Gainesway Farm for the 2019 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Coast (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

West Coast is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, foaled, raised and sold by historic Thoroughbred nursery, Hermitage Farm. Unraced at age two, he was named the Champion three-year-old colt of 2017 after wins in the Travers Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby, plus a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. At age four, he finished second in the Pegasus World Cup, Dubai World Cup and Awesome Again Stakes. He finished his career with a record of six wins from 13 starts and earnings of $5,803,800.

Battle of Midway was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his upset victory in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He also finished third in the 2017 Kentucky Derby before winning the Affirmed Stakes and Shared Belief Stakes that year. Briefly retired to stud in 2018, he proved sub-fertile and was returned to racing that summer. In his second career, he won several stakes races including the Native Diver and San Pasqual. He was euthanized on February 23, 2019, after suffering a severe fracture to the hind pastern while in training for his next race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Kentucky Derby</span> 144th running of Kentucky Derby

The 2018 Kentucky Derby was the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby, and took place on Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Louisville, Kentucky. The field was open to 20 horses, with a purse of US$2 million. The Derby is held annually in Louisville on the first Saturday in May, at the end of the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. It is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km), and has been run at Churchill Downs racetrack since its inception in 1875.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War of Will (horse)</span> American racehorse

War of Will is a classic winning American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2019 Preakness Stakes and is one of only three modern-day racehorses to win a Grade One on dirt and turf. He also won the 2019 Lecomte Stakes, 2019 Risen Star Stakes, and 2020 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes.

Art Collector was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2021 Woodward Stakes, the 2023 Pegasus World Cup and the Grade II Charles Town Classic twice. In a career spanning five seasons, he won or placed in seven graded stakes races.

Essential Quality is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2021 Belmont Stakes, the 2021 Travers Stakes, and the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was named the 2020 Champion Two-Year-Old and the 2021 Champion Three-Year-Old.

The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2022 Kentucky Derby, which was held on May 7. The field for the Derby is limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. There are three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the Derby: the main Road consisting of races in North America, the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the European road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland and France. The top four finishers in the specified races receive points, with higher points awarded in the major prep races in March and April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races act as a tie breaker.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "CHURCHILL DOWNS – May 6, 2017 – Race 12" (PDF). Equibase. May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  2. ↑ "2017 Kentucky Derby & Oaks – May 5 and 6, 2017". Churchill Downs. Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  3. ↑ "History Of Churchill Downs". Churchill Downs. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Watch Derby on NBC". www.kentuckyderby.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Angst, Frank. "Always Dreaming True in Kentucky Derby Win". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Blood-Horse staf (May 8, 2017). "Derby Telecast Viewership Largest Since 1989". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  7. ↑ "About the Road to the Kentucky Derby". Churchill Downs Incorporated. 2016. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Girvin Reigns in Louisiana Derby". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  9. ↑ Wincze Hughes, Alicia. "Classic Empire Delivers in Arkansas Derby". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Not This Time Retired Due to Injury". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  11. ↑ Haskin, Steve. "Derby Dozen – March 14, 2017 – Presented by Shadwell Farm". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Epicharis Earns Japan's Kentucky Derby Bid". BloodHorse.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Kentucky Derby Leaderboard – April 8 update" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  14. ↑ Mensching, Kurt (May 3, 2017). "Kentucky Derby 2017 odds: Morning line released". SB Nation. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  15. ↑ Hammonds, Evan. "Derby Draw: Classic Empire 4–1 Choice, Draws Post 14". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Nominations, Triple Crown (2017)" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  17. ↑ Mitchell, Ron. "Soggy Start to Oaks Day; No Derby Scratches". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  18. ↑ "The Latest: Always Dreaming wins Kentucky Derby in slop". USA TODAY. Associated Press. May 6, 2017. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Bucking Thunder Snow appears to be OK, but teasing follows on Twitter". sacbee. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  20. ↑ Wolken, Dan. "Always Dreaming recovers well from Derby, heads to Preakness". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Always Dreaming becomes fifth straight favorite to win Kentucky Derby". Daily Racing Form. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Always Dreaming pulls away on a soggy track to win 143rd Kentucky Derby". Washington Post. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  23. ↑ Cherwa, John (May 6, 2017). "Always Dreaming wins the 143rd Kentucky Derby". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  24. ↑ "A Derby 'Dream' Come True". www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  25. ↑ Drape, Joe (May 7, 2017). "Always Dreaming's Story Starts With 2 Brooklyn Boys' Trips to the Track". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  26. ↑ McGee, Marty (May 6, 2017). "Always Dreaming fifth straight favorite to win Derby". Daily Racing Form . ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Profile of Almost Dreaming". www.equibase.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Battle of Midway". www.equibase.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Practical Joke". www.equibase.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Tapwrit Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Girvin". www.equibase.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Thunder Snow". www.equibase.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.