After a late surge on the outside in the stretch at Churchill Downs, Golden Tempo has claimed victory in the Kentucky Derby, making trainer Cherie Devaux the first female trainer to win 'The Run for the Roses'.
Race Highlights
Golden Tempo, which entered the gate at 23-1 odds, overcame a significant distance to catch up to and overtake the pack, beating morning favorite Renegade by a nose. Renegade finished second, marking the eighth consecutive year that the morning favorite has failed to win the most famous race in American horse racing.
Ocelli, which started at 70-1 odds, came in third, while Chief Wallabee placed fourth.
Scratches and Delays
The 152nd edition of the historic race was run with only 18 horses instead of the maximum 20, after The Puma and Great White were scratched from the lineup at the last minute. Churchill Downs officials announced on Saturday morning that The Puma was withdrawn due to a swollen leg from a skin infection. He was ruled out less than 12 hours before the 6:57pm ET post time, past the deadline for Corona de Oro to draw into the field from the also-eligible list. The horse, trained by Gustavo Delgado Sr. and his son Gustavo Delgado Jr., opened at odds of 10-1 and was bet down to 8-1 by Friday.
Then, on the walk to the starting gate, Great White lost control and flipped over, throwing jockey Alex Achard from his saddle. Great White, who entered the field after Silent Tactic was scratched, was examined on-track by veterinarians. Eventually, the decision was made to remove the saddle from the horse, denying Achard his Kentucky Derby debut. The scratching of Great White further delayed the race start. Although the post time was set for 6:57pm ET, the gates did not open until 7:08pm ET.
More to follow.
