2018 Derby Recap

Congratulations to the connections of Justify.  What a display for a horse to look that clean in the slop is a testament to this equine. Justify crushed the curse, becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a 2-year-old. He ran like a total pro, coping with a sloppy track, a hot early pace, and turning back an upper stretch challenge from 2-year-old champion Good Magic to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Mike Smith, who gave Justify a flawless ride, won his second Derby. The race is old hat for trainer Bob Baffert, who won it for the fifth time. Triple Crown is in play.

So here we are with 6 straight favorites winning the Run for the Roses.  The points system for entry to the Derby certainly is setting the favorites up for success. Note to self, as difficult as it is for a handicapper to select a favorite, I may have to next year given this trend.

Riders Up selection Audible (pictured above) ran a solid race nearly getting up for Place losing by a nose to Good Magic finishing in 3rd.  It was a blast handicapping this race with so many excellent horses in play.  Also, kudos to Amazon company Audible who had a partnership with the owners that should he win everyone would receive American Pharoah audio book.  With solid showing they went ahead and are providing the book anyways. Awesome.

Race 12

 Post: 6:48 PM ET 

Dirt 1 1/4 M | STAKES | Purse: $2,000,000

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• #HORSEJOCKEYWeightTRAINERWIN $PLACE $SHOW $

• 7JustifyM. Smith126LbsB. Baffert7.806.004.40
• 6Good MagicJ. Ortiz126LbsC. Brown 9.206.60
• 5AudibleJ. Castellano126LbsT. Pletcher  5.80

• Winner Information:Winning Trainer: Bob Baffert | Owner: WinStar Farm, LLC [Kenny Troutt], China Horse Club [Ah Khing Teo], Starlight Racing [Jack Wolf, et al.] and Head of Plains Partners, LLC [Sol Kumin]

  List of Kentucky Derby payouts

  7 - Justify - $7.80/$6.00/$4.40
  6 - Good Magic - $9.20/$6.60
  5 - Audible - $5.80
  15 - Instilled Regard
  10 - My Boy Jack

  $2 Pick Six (5 of 6) - 6/7/10/4/9/7,21 - $17,116.80; $770,263.86 pick six carryover
  $2 Pick Five - 7/10/4/9/7,21 - $2,483,310.60
  $0.50 Pick Four - 10/4/9/7,21 - $69,885.15
  $2 Pick Three - 4/9/7 - $13,098.20
  $2 Double - 9/7 - $88.20
  $2 Exacta - 7-6 - $69.60
  $2 Trifecta -7-6-5 - $282.80
  $0.50 Trifecta - 7-6-5 - $70.70
  $2 Superfecta - 7-6-5-15 - $39,236.40
  $1 Superfecta - 7-6-5-15 - $19,618.20
  $2 Exact 5 - 7-6-5-15-10 - $367,160.40

Riders Up! See You in the Winner's Circle!