Kentucky Derby Blog

I Want Revenge, the morning line favorite, was scratched over concerns about a tender ankle and wet track conditions.

I Want Revenge was the first morning favourite in Derby history to withdraw from the famed Churchill Downs race on the day of the event even though X-ray and ultrasound tests could not discover any damage in the 3-year-old colt.

When the word came out that running could hurt the horse, I looked at both doctors and said, ‘Then this is no debate,’” owner David Lanzman said. “‘What are we talking about? We’ll fight another day.’”

Trainer Jeff Mullins discovered the problem on I Want Revenge’s left front ankle, seeing it was tender when flexed. Adding to concerns was rain that was expected to make for sloppy track conditions.

Larry Bramlage, the on-call veterinarian at Churchill Downs, said the horse didn’t look injured while jogging for doctors.

“Unfortunately, this close to the Derby, there’s not a way to gauge how bad that is,” he said.

Friesan Fire, who became the favourite among gamblers late on Friday, takes over the favourite’s role.

Rachel Alexandra won a spectacular 20 1/4-length victory in the 500,000-dollar Kentucky Oaks on Friday.

The filly’s performance no doubt left many Derby contenders thankful that her connections hadn’t elected to run her in the first jewel in US flat racing’s Triple Crown, preferring to race her against other females rather than take on the country’s top colts in the Kentucky Derby.

Rachel Alexandra tracked the early pace of Gabby’s Golden Gal through fractions of :23.75, :47.46, and 1:11.81 before accelerating to the front with the greatest of ease. She was already ahead by ten lengths with a furlong remaining.

The winner paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. Stone Legacy, a 25-1 shot with Kent Desormeaux aboard, rallied for second and paid $11 and $5, while Flying Spur with Garrett Gomez claimed third and paid $2.80.

The eve of the Derby at Churchill Downs was marred by the death of Stormalory, a three-year-old colt that was euthanized after breaking down during the 150,000 -dollar American Turf Stakes.