Kentucky Derby Results 2018: Video Replay, Times Chart, Triple Crown Predictions
Post-time favourite Justify won the 2018 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, taking care of the first leg of the Triple Crown of horse racing in style.
The colt won the race in a time of 2:04.20 on a wet and sloppy track. According to Horse Racing Nation, it was the slowest time since 2010, when Super Saver beat Ice Box to the finish line.
Justify became the first horse to win the race without having run as a two-year-old since 1882, when Apollo accomplished the feat. He also became the sixth straight favourite to win the Run for the Roses.
Here is a look at the race replay:
The full results:
Win ($1.24 million): Justify (2:04.20); Jockey: Mike Smith; Trainer: Bob Baffert
Place ($400,000): Good Magic (-2 ½ lengths); Jockey: Jose Ortiz; Trainer: Chad Brown
Show ($200,000): Audible (-2 ½ lengths); Jockey: Javier Castellano; Trainer: Todd Pletcher
4th ($100,000): Instilled Regard (-4 ¼ lengths); Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke; Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
5th ($60,000): My Boy Jack (-7 lengths); Jockey: Kent Desormeaux; Trainer: J. Keith Desormeaux
6th: Bravazo (-8 lengths); Jockey: Luis Contreras; Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
7th: Hofburg (-8 ¾ lengths); Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.; Trainer: William Mott
8th: Lone Sailor (-9 ¼ lengths); Jockey: James Graham; Trainer: Thomas Amoss
9th: Vino Rosso (-10 ½ lengths); Jockey: John Velazquez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher
10th: Solomini (-11 lengths); Jockey: Flavien Prat; Trainer: Bob Baffert
11th: Firenze Fire (-23 ½ lengths); Jockey: Paco Lopez; Trainer: Jason Servis
12th: Bolt d'Oro (-24 ¼ lengths); Jockey: Victor Espinoza; Trainer: Mick Ruis
13th: Flameaway (-30 ½ lengths); Jockey: Jose Lezcano; Trainer: Mark Casse
14th: Enticed (-34 ¾ lengths); Jockey: Junior Alvarado; Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
15th: Promises Fulfilled (-39 ¾ lengths); Jockey: Corey Lanerie; Trainer: Dale Romans
16th: Free Drop Billy (-41 lengths); Jockey: Robby Albarado; Trainer: Dale Romans
17th: Noble Indy (-42 ¼ lengths); Jockey: Florent Geroux; Trainer: Todd Pletcher
18th: Combatant (-42 ¾ lengths); Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.; Trainer: Steven Asmussen
19th: Magnum Moon (-49 ½ lengths); Jockey: Luis Saez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher
20th: Mendelssohn (-73 ¼ lengths); Jockey: Ryan Moore; Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Justify fired out of the gate and quickly positioned himself near the top of the group, a crucial strategy on a sloppy track. The colt didn't have to waste energy making up a deficit but also wasn't bothered by the mud kicked up by the front-runners. Other favourites like Magnum Moon and Mendelssohn could not avoid the crowds.
Bolt d'Oro initially kept pace well but fell away, while Justify moved to the head of the pack early. Good Magic showed good speed in the final straight but never seemed likely to close the gap, and Audible's surge came too late.
Per ESPN's Darren Rovell, the three top finishers were hardly a surprise―although Instilled Regard in fourth came as something of a shock:
Unsurprisingly, Justify's easy win at Churchill Downs immediately got the racing community buzzing. The Guardian's Greg Wood was one of the first to call the Derby winner a true Triple Crown contender, pointing to his consistent pace in the final stretch.
There's cause for concern, however. Justify didn't race as a two-year-old but has been very busy in 2018, with four races under his belt already. He'll be the favourite against a smaller field for the Preakness Stakes, and if he wins at Pimlico, he should be quite exhausted heading into the Belmont Stakes.
Many talented horses have fallen at the final hurdle, going up against a fresher field and over a longer distance. The 2015 Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, dominated at Pimlico and Belmont but did so against severely overmatched opposition―Justify might not have that luxury.
The likes of Audible and Good Magic showed their remarkable talent at Churchill Downs, while Magnum Moon should run far better on a good track or in different weather conditions. At least some of those will head for Belmont with fresher legs than Justify.
Triple Crown Prediction: Justify continues his dominance in the Preakness but can't finish the job at Belmont.
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