In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbies and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbies of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 3, 2015.
Number 2 – Monarchos 2001
The 2001 Derby is often forgotten, as the final two legs of the Triple Crown were dominated by Point Given. However, the Derby itself in 2001 was just as interesting, and historical, as what followed. The race itself pitted speed against stamina and late runners against speed-balls. A favorite that appeared dominant but a surrounding cast that was capable. It also didn’t hurt that this Thorobro was treated to a great summer on a new motorboat thanks to Monarchos (and really more so to Invisible Ink finishing second at 50-1).
The Prelude
Point Given was a deserving favorite in the run up to the Derby. His Kentucky Derby path began in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, where he was a fast-closing second to Eclipse Winner Macho Uno when the race was held at Churchill Downs. He closed the year with a win in the Hollywood Futurity. He continued his winning ways at 3 winning both the San Felipe and the Santa Anita Derby by daylight and in dominating fashion heading into Louisville. many believed with the extra 3/16 of a mile under the Twin Spires, Point Given would improve off his second place finish in the Breeders Cup. It also didn’t hurt that the public already had a keen eye for this typr of Derby runner, as trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Gary Stevens had recently teamed up with Silver Charm to win the roses in 1997.
Monarchos, who did not break his maiden until his 3 year old year, was equally as dominant in the Florida Derby, winning by 4 and 1/2 lengths with a strong six wide move down the lane. It was a visually impressive race for the John Oxley-owned runner, trained by John Ward and ridden by Jorge Chavez. However, Monarchos stock price dropped a little when he was defeated by the speed-ball Congaree in the Wood Memorial in his final Derby prep.
Congaree, who would go on to be a fantastic miler/sprinter, loved to run on the lead. He might not always have the first call, but in nearly every race he ran he was at the front with a half mile to go. After and unimpressive start to his career at 2, Congaree broke his maiden, won an allowance and then beat Monarchos in the Wood Memorial heading into the Derby. He was the “now” horse, with a little unknown to him. However, he too was trained by Baffert and
The Race
Out of the gate, Songandaprayer, ridden by Aaron Gryder, ran like the only prayer he had was to wire the field. He set suicide fractions, running the fastest opening half mile in Derby history, 44 4/5 seconds. meanwhile, Congaree was chasing the lead in fifth, followed closely by stable-mate Point Given on the 3 wide in sixth. Monarchos felt comfortable to sit towards the rear of the field as the pace blazed up top. The fast feactions continued as the field ran the fastest 6f time ever in the Derby, going in 1:09 1/5 second. By this time Songandaprayer had tapped out of it and Congaree and Point Given began to make a move in tandem, with Monarchos picking off horses from the back of the pack.
At the top of the stretch Congaree had the lead with Point Given looking ready to pounce. However, the chasing must have caught up to the 9-5 favorite Point Given, as he flattened out before the 1/8th pole. Congaree continued on, but Monarchos was looming. At the 1/8th pole, Monarchos caught and blew past the tiring Congaree and won the race by a dominant 4 and 3/4 lengths. In fact, thanks to the suicide fraction of Songandaprayer, this was the 2nd fasted Derby ever, equally Secretariat’s Derby performance.
here is the race.
The Aftermath
The fifth place finish by Point Given was a definite disappointment, as many considered him to be a serious Triple Crown threat. However, he did not disappoint his loyal fans, as he swept the final two legs of the Triple Crown, in dominating fashion. He continued gis winning ways by taking the Haskell and the Travers in succession, the last being one of the most visually impressive performances I have ever witnessed. Point Given became the only horse ever to win 4 races in a row worth $1 million.
Congaree went on to become an impressive miler/sprinter, as he is the only horse to win back to back Cigar Miles. He also found Grade 1 success at 1 1/4 miles winning the Hollywood Gold Cup.
Monarchos, was defeated at Pimlico, and actually never won another race. He ran third in the Belmont as well. It was found that he had a fracture in his leg following the Belmont and he was sidelinded the reaminder of the year. He ran just one more time, a loss in an allowance race. However, his spot in history was already cemented when he claimed the Roses in 2001 in record time against two very impressive runners.
