Kentucky Derby Results

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Monarchos
winner of the Kentucky Derby with Jorge Chavez up.

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Dateline: 05/05/01

The second largest crowd in Kentucky Derby history -- 154,210 -- was on hand at Churchill Downs Saturday to witness an explosive victory by Monarchos. The early pace, aided by an extremely hard track, was the fastest in Derby history. As a result, the early speed was finished by the far turn. Monarchos, who was as far back as 13th, took off as they turned for home and drew away to win by 4 3/4 widening lengths.

Point Given was sent off as the 1.80-1 favorite but he disappointed his many backers with his 5th place finish. Having started from the far outside post, jockey Gary Stevens had to use him early to get into position, and he did not enjoy the warm temperatures and high humidity. When he turned for home he got as close as second but faded in the stretch. Second choice Dollar Bill continued his hard-luck streak, having to take up sharply at the 3/8 when longshot Jamaican Rum, gaining ground 6 wide, leaned in on him. By comparison, Monarchos may have had the cleanest trip of them all, despite being bumped by Point Given at the start. Jockey Jorge Chavez kept him out of trouble the whole way, rating him at least 10 lengths off the lead early. On the far turn he went 5 wide and passed the tiring early speed, and through the lane he collared Congaree and wore him down. 55-1 longshot Invisible Ink just nosed out Congaree for second money. The final time of 1:59.97 was the second fastest in Derby history, just a fraction of a second slower than Secretariat's 1:59.40 in 1973.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey        Win   Place  Show
16   Monarchos          Chavez      23.00   11.80  8.80
13   Invisible Ink      Velazquez           46.60 21.20
 8   Congaree           Espinoza                   7.20

Winning Time:  1:59.97

$2 Exacta 16-13             1,229.00
$2 Trifecta 16-13-8        12,238.40
$2 Derby/Oaks Double 9-16      79.20
$2 Future Wager Pool 1         36.40
$2 Future Wager Pool 2         13.00
$2 Future Wager Pool 3         15.80

Results Chart

As they pass the stands for the first time, the speedballs Songandaprayer, Balto Star, and Keats lead the way. They set blistering fractions of 22.25, 44.86, and 1:09.25 before packing it in to finish 13th, 14th, and 16th.

Coming down the stretch to the wire with Monarchos starting to draw away from Congaree. His final winning margin was 4 3/4 lengths.

Monarchos all alone at the finish. He ran the second fastest time ever behind Secretariat, 1:59.97. Owner John Oxley said, "The horse came very close to beating the greatest today."

Monarchos returning after the finish of the Derby. Jockey Jorge Chavez said, "I knew he was ready for today. I didn't want to use him too early, I knew he was going to explode. I had more horse than in the Florida Derby. He was much, much more horse today, and I don't think I was 100 percent. I was moving my arms, just to touch him with the stick and keep going with him."

Monarchos in the winner's circle with his roses. Trainer John Ward said, "I have never seen this horse stop his drive. He has continually been coming at the end of the race and has always finished full of run."

The happy connections at the trophy presentation. Debbie Oxley said, "I'm from Louisville so this is especially sweet for me."

Monarchos leaving the winner's circle for the test barn with his new blanket. Trainer John Ward added, "He was not a tired horse in the winner's enclosure. We're going to be able to take on all comers at Pimlico."

Monarchos in the post parade looking quite focused despite all the excitement around him.

Second place finisher Invisible Ink in the post parade. Jockey John Velazquez said, "My horse ran a really good race, but the winner was the best horse in the race. This is the Derby. I finished second." Velazquez lodged a claim of foul against Chavez on Monarchos but the claim as disallowed by the stewards.

Third place finisher Congaree who was just nosed out by Invisible Ink at the wire. Jockey Victor Espinoza said, "He was relaxed on the backstretch; just running so easy. Then at the half-mile pole he wanted to go. I had to fight him; take a strong hold. But we moved up and made the front and I thought maybe.... But at the end, he just got outrun."

Fourth place finisher Thunder Blitz made a mild rally to pass Point Given. He returned from the race bleeding from the mouth. Jockey Edgar Prado said "We were going well. We broke good. We got behind the speed and waited. He finished well. I think he is a great horse."

Point Given was the post time favorite at 1.80-1 and was in perfect position to to win after a mile but just flattened out in the stretch. Jockey Gary Stevens said, "He never felt comfortable out there. The odd thing about it was he didn't seem to be tired when he pulled up. He wasn't breathing hard at all. It was like he didn't race. Maybe the heat had something to do with it."

Dollar Bill was the favorite in the advance wagering on Friday but wound up going off as the second favorite at 6.60-1. He never made an impact in the race, having to take up sharply when in tight quarters and finished 15th. Jockey Pat Day said, "I have just been unlucky with this colt. Today was the day that I thought I would get him a decent trip, but I'm just not getting any decent trips. From my perspective, the first turn was clean. Everybody made it into it around the first turn without any problems. He seemed to pull up fine. I checked him when I got off him."