Dullahan, with Kent Desormeaux aboard, leads the field into the first turn during the 138th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57.2 kg) and fillies 121 pounds (54.9 kg).
The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the US Triple Crown and is followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes.
A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown. The attendance at the Kentucky Derby ranks first in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and the Breeders' Cup.
With Mario Gutierrez aboard, the chestnut colt stormed out of post No. 19 – the first winner from that slot in 138 runnings of the Derby – and bided his time back in mid-pack while Bodemeister set a blistering pace on a hot, muggy afternoon.
"He's an amazing horse," Gutierrez said. "I told everybody before the first time I rode him, I knew he was the one."
But a record crowd of 165,307 looking on didn't know I'll Have Another had the goods until the 20-horse field turned for home. That's when Gutierrez, who moved up between horses around the final turn, positioned his colt not far from the rail and set him down to run.
Bodemeister, trained by three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, was second and returned $6.20 and $5.60. Dullahan was a neck back in third and paid $7.20 to show. Trainer Doug O'Neill didn't waste any time vowing that I'll Have Another will go on to the Preakness in two weeks.
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