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Dateline: 05/01/2004
Saturday at Churchill Downs brought more rain, causing the track to be closed to morning workouts and sealed to keep out as much moisture as possible. The track condition was muddy with the turf yielding at the beginning of the day, but the main track was upgraded to fast by the 6th race due to the clearing weather. However, the rain started pouring again after the 8th race, downgrading the track to sloppy again for the Derby. There were five additional stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard with several big name horses competing. Here are the results for all five in the order they were run.
Kentucky Derby results are here.
The Churchill Downs Handicap - 7 furlongs for 4-year-olds and up
Laura and Eugene Melnyk's swift Speightstown took command shortly after the break and stayed in front the rest of the way to win the $222,300 Churchill Downs Handicap today under jockey John Velazquez. Speightstown, a consistent six-year-old son of Gone West, cruised to the wire 3 1/2 lengths on top, recording a time of 1:21.38 over a main track surface termed "good" after rain today. McCann's Mojave, an invader from California, made a strong move at the winner entering the stretch, but was unable to overhaul him while staying on gamely for second, two lengths ahead of the late-charging Publication. Congaree, the 123 pound highweight and 4-5 favorite, was never able to threaten, finishing a well-beaten fourth in the field of seven horses. Key Deputy was scratched from the original field. Speightstown, trained by Todd Pletcher, returned $12.80 to his supporters in the Kentucky Derby Day crowd while earning $137,826 for his seventh victory in 12 lifetime starts. The Kentucky-bred horse carried 115 pounds.
Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "I was talking with Todd [trainer Todd Pletcher] in the paddock and I said that I hope they don't press him today. It turned out to be easier than I thought. Nobody went with me and it made it extremely easy for him."
Jerry Bailey, aboard beaten favorite Congaree, said, "He just didn't want to run today. He was never into the race. He broke OK, but then it was all a struggle. Everything was a huge effort for him this afternoon."
Full results chart from Equibase
The Three Chimneys Juvenile - 5 furlongs for 2-year-olds
Florida-bred Lunarpal, a speedy son of Successful Appeal owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, cruised to a brilliant victory today in the $110,400 Three Chimneys Juvenile, a supporting feature for two-year-old Thoroughbreds on the day of the 130th Kentucky Derby. Lunarpal, piloted by Shane Sellers, wore down highly regarded filly Classic Elegance entering the stretch, resisted a challenge from stablemate Goes and then drew off impressively to score by five lengths in a fast :57.98 for the five furlongs over a fast track. Closing from far back for second was 11-1 longshot Gallant Secret, with Classic Elegance third and Goes faltering to fourth in the final furlong. Lunarpal, an easy winner in his career debut for trainer Steve Asmussen at Keeneland on April 18, went postward the 6-5 favorite and paid $4.60. The victory was worth $68,448 to his owner.
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen said, "This is a very talented horse and I hope we can do well coming out of this race as Todd (Pletcher) did with (Kentucky Derby starter) Limehouse. The way he ran here and with us being here, I definitely want to keep him here."
Full results chart from Equibase
The Argent Mortgage Stakes - 1 mile turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up
Shaconage, lightly-regarded at 19-1 under jockey Brice Blanc, closed stoutly along the inside to nose out odds-on favored Etoile Montante in the $113,300 Argent Mortgage Stakes for older fillies and mares at a mile on the infield Matt Winn Turf Course today. Etoile Montante, the 3-5 choice under Jerry Bailey, appeared en route to victory in deep stretch until collared and then passed in the final strides by Shaconage, a Kentucky-bred daughter of El Prado. Chance Dance was third, two lengths behind Etoile Montante and a half-length ahead of early pacesetter Sand Springs, who faded to fourth in the field of 10 distaffers. Shaconage, owned by Andrena Van Doren and trained by veteran Mitch Shirota, stepped the distance over a yielding course in 1:36.10 and returned $40.60 to her backers in attendance on Derby Day. The victory was Shaconage's fourth in 13 total starts and first money of $70,246 increased her lifetime earnings to $217,648.
Full results chart from Equibase
The Humana Distaff Handicap - 7 furlongs for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up
Lothenbach Stable's Mayo On the Side outdueled champion mare Azeri through the stretch to score an upset victory today in the $280,250 Humana Distaff Handicap (G1), a supporting feature on the 130th Kentucky Derby undercard. With Pat Day providing strong encouragement, Mayo On the Side scored by a head over Azeri, who was Horse of the Year 2002 and champion older mare of 2003. Carl Nafzger trains Mayo On the Side, a 5-year-old daughter of French Deputy who earned a winner's prize of $174,375 after racing the seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:22.78. She was a supplementary nominee to the Humana Distaff at a fee of $12,500. The winner, who was capturing her second straight, paid $13 to win and topped a $27.60 exacta with Azeri. Randaroo finished third, seven and a quarter lengths behind the top pair, and Kediai Sakura was a neck farther back in a field reduced to four by scratches.
Full results chart from Equibase
The Woodford Reserve Turf Classic - 1 1/8 miles turf for 3-year-olds and up
Claiborne Farm's Stroll tracked the early leader for most of the nine furlongs of the 18th running of the $453,900 Woodford Reserve Turf Handicap, then asserted his superiority in the final furlong to triumph by 2 ½ lengths on a stormy Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. The homebred 4-year-old colt by Pulpit scored his first Grade I win in the grass test, run on a wet and yielding course that produced a final time of 1:53 flat, the slowest running of the 3-year-old and up feature. Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey rode the Kentucky-bred colt for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The winning payoff was $11.60. Pace-setter Sweet Return held on gamely to take second, a nose in front of late-closing Mystery Giver. Burning Sun was another three-quarters of a length back in the 11-horse field. Stroll picked up a first prize of $281,418 to push his career earnings to $733,965. The victory was his seventh in his 13th career starts. All of his wins have come on turf.
Full results chart from Equibase
Photos courtesy of Tina Hines.
