TOPS IN EQUINE
Kentucky Oaks and Derby Recap: RECORDS FALL AS BAFFERT WALKS LIKE AN EGYPTIAN IN THE DERBY AND IN THE OAKS YOU HAD TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONES’ by John C. Engelhardt
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nspired by highly talent laden and competitive fields, this years Kentucky Oaks and Derby was doubly blessed with picture perfect weather that drew record crowds beneath the historic Twin Spires on both days. To say “the sun shined bright on my Old Kentucky Home” was an understatement. It was complimented by a soft breeze that blended whiffed cigar smoke and the sweet smell of Mint Juleps throughout the grandstand that drew throngs of beautiful belles in their best Bluegrass dress and hopeful handicappers set to make the score of a lifetime. On Friday’s Oaks Day there were 123,763 revelers on hand, besting the 2010 mark of 116,046. They reached in their pockets and pulled out some greens totaling $12 million and wagering on the Oaks itself was a record $3.1 million. The Kentucky Derby grew off that momentum with a new on-track attendance of 170,513 eclipsing the 2012 crowd by over five thousand. On track, they wagered a record $12 million on the Derby itself, but enjoyed a 7% increase on all-sources Derby handle of $137.9 million. The days leading up to the first weekend in May were near perfect for the horses putting in their final workouts and daily gallops on the main track at Churchill Downs. After the special time reserved each morning for runners in the Oaks and Derby, throngs of media were magnetically drawn to the barn of three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert who appeared to hold the strongest hand going into the race with the two pre-race favorites. With cameras whirring
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and television crews jostling for position, the towering undefeated colt Dortmund struck statuesque poses while being bathed. American Pharoah, winner of four consecutive graded stakes, was a little more on the muscle in front of the surrounding crowd as he gave his handlers a bit of a fight. He was an imposing, well muscled figure nonetheless. Baffert would obligingly hold court with the press corps after the morning work was done. The most obvious question that was asked was, “Which one do you like better?” His answer was diplomatic and simple: “Aw come on–that’s like asking me which one of my kids do I like best.” Diplomacy had to play its part, as the white-haired conditioner trained these top two colts for different owners. While both horses had each amassed over $1 million, Baffert laid out a masterful schedule where they would not face each other until the first Saturday in May. After two late scratches, eighteen horses loaded into the starting gate, shortly after the traditional song “My Old Kentucky Home” resonated through the record-setting crowd. As the latch was sprung Dortmund and his west coast nemesis Firing Line cleared the field with American Pharoah just to their outside in third. With Dortmund maintaining a slight lead, the top three held their position that way for the first mile of the 1 ¼ mile race. They had done so with relatively easy fractions on the front, which ultimately would spell disaster for the late runners in the bulky field.