I’ll Have Another pulls off Derby upset

I’ll Have Another, with jockey Mario Gutierrez up, nipped Bodemeister in the stretch to win the Kentucky Derby.

Bodemeister carried the highest Beyer Speed Figure into the race and nearly pulled off a gate to finish win. The achievement would have been historic. Bedemeister did not race as a two year old. No horse since the late Nineteenth Century has won the Derby with that background.

I’ll Have Another, winner of the Santa Anita Derby and the Robert B. Lewis Derby, but lightly regarded for speed (95 speed figure), closed from the 19th pole position in his clutch run.

Bodemeister held off fast closing Dullahan to finish second. Went the Day Well finished fourth.

Union Rag, the favorite, finished seventh. “He broke a step slow and he usually breaks well from the gate,” said jockey Julian Leparoux. “Then he got bumped and we dropped far back. After the first turn and on the backside, I tried to find room inside but I had nowhere to go where I can make a move. At that time, I knew it was going to be tough to come back. It’s unfortunate.”

The order of finish for the 138th Kentucky Derby

1. I’ll Have Another
2. Bodemeister
3. Dullahan
4. Went the Day Well
5. Creative Cause
6. Liaison
7. Union Rags
8. Rousing Sermon
9. Hansen
10. Daddy Nose Best
11. Optimizer
12. Alpha
13. El Padrino
14. Done Talking
15. Sabercat
16. Gemologist
17. Trinninberg
18. Prospective
19. take Charge Indy
20. Daddy Long Legs

Image found on Kentuckyderby.com